-mycetes

1. a combining form meaning “mushrooms, fungi,” used in the formation of taxonomic names of fungi, especially classes:

   Myxomycetes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of -mycetes¹

< New Latin < Greek mykétes, plural of mýkēs mushroom + -ism

Example Sentences

The extensive class of the fungi (or mycetes) resembles a part of the bacteria in regard to metabolism.

From Project Gutenberg

In Mycetes the mandible is very large, its ascending portions being specially developed.

From Project Gutenberg

In Mycetes the basi-hyal is enormously large, forming a somewhat globular thin-walled capsule.

From Project Gutenberg

Some are entirely black, others brownish-black, while the Mycetes ursinus is of a shiny yellow.

From Project Gutenberg

Ascomycetes is from two Greek words: ascos, a sack; mycetes, a fungus or mushroom.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use -mycetes

What does -mycetes mean?

The combining form -mycetes is used like a suffix meaning “mushrooms, fungi.” It is occasionally used in the scientific names for classes of fungi in taxonomy.

The form -mycetes comes from Greek mykétes, the plural of mykēs, meaning “mushroom.” Other combining forms meaning “fungus” that come from this same Greek root are myco- and myc-.

What are variants of -mycetes?

When indicating a singular, -mycetes becomes -mycete, as in myxomycete. A similar combining form used like a prefix is myceto-. Want to learn more? Check out our Words That Use entries for both -mycete and myceto-.

Examples of -mycetes

One example of a scientific term that features the form -mycetes is Zygomycetes, “a subclass of fungi characterized by sexual reproduction resulting in the formation of a large spore formed by union of similar gametes.”

The form zygo- literally means “yoked” and is used to indicate a pair or a union. The -mycetes portion of the word means “fungi,” and Zygomycetes therefore literally translates to “yoked (paired) fungi.”

What are some words that use the combining form -mycetes?

• Ascomycetes
• Basidiomycetes
• Deuteromycetes
• Phycomycetes (using the equivalent form of -mycetes in Latin)

What are some other forms that -mycetes may be commonly confused with?

• -metry
• -morphic
• -mycin

Break it down!

The combining form phyco- means “algae.” With this in mind, what do the fungi known as Phycomycetes resemble?