mushroom

[ muhsh-room, -room ]

noun

1. any of various fleshy fungi including the toadstools, puffballs, coral fungi, morels, etc.
2. any of several edible species, especially of the family Agaricaceae, as Agaricus campestris meadow mushroom, or field mushroom, cultivated for food in the U.S.
3. anything of similar shape or correspondingly rapid growth.
4. a large, mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke or rubble, formed in the atmosphere as a result of an explosion, especially a nuclear explosion.

adjective

1. of, consisting of, or containing mushrooms:

   a mushroom omelet.

2. resembling a mushroom in shape or form.
3. of rapid growth and often brief duration:

   mushroom towns of the gold-rush days.

verb (used without object)

1. to spread, grow, or develop quickly.
2. to gather mushrooms.
3. to have or assume the shape of a mushroom.

mushroom

/ -rʊm; ˈmʌʃruːm /

noun

1. 1. the fleshy spore-producing body of any of various basidiomycetous fungi, typically consisting of a cap (pileus) at the end of a stem arising from an underground mycelium. Some species, such as the field mushroom, are edible Compare pileus toadstool
   2. ( as modifier )

      mushroom soup

2. the fungus producing any of these structures
3. 1. something resembling a mushroom in shape or rapid growth
   2. ( as modifier )

      mushroom expansion

verb

1. to grow rapidly

   demand mushroomed overnight

2. to assume a mushroom-like shape
3. to gather mushrooms

mushroom

/ mŭsh′ro̅o̅m′ /

1. Any of various fungi that produce a fleshy fruiting body, which usually consists of a stalk topped by an umbrella-shaped cap. Many mushrooms are basidiomycetes. Some species of mushrooms are edible, though many are poisonous. The term mushroom is often applied to the stalk and cap alone.
2. See more at basidiomycete

Other Words From

• mushroom·like adjective
• mushroom·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mushroom¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; alteration (by folk etymology) of Middle English muscheron, musseroun, from Middle French mousseron, ultimately from Late Latin mussiriōn-, stem of mussiriō

Word History and Origins

Origin of mushroom¹

C15: from Old French mousseron, from Late Latin mussiriō, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

When John Folkes was 19 years old, he was on board a plane ordered to fly through four atomic bomb mushroom clouds.

From BBC

We get our beef on Wednesdays, clean it and create all the necessary components including the crepes, mushroom duxelle and puff pastry on Thursdays.

From Salon

Rem uses a heavier-weight linen to keep berries firm and mushrooms from turning to slime.

From Los Angeles Times

Ellora Coupe, who lives in south-west London, says she forages for mushrooms once a year on Wimbledon Common with her children.

From BBC

On a good day like Sunday Funday, I would make my vegan chicken fried mushrooms and waffles.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• boom
• burgeon
• expand
• explode
• flourish
• proliferate
• shoot up