fungi

¹ American  

[fuhn-jahy, fuhng-gahy] / ˈfʌn dʒaɪ, ˈfʌŋ gaɪ /

plural noun

1. a plural of fungus.

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Fungi ² American  

[fuhn-jahy, fuhng-gahy] / ˈfʌn dʒaɪ, ˈfʌŋ gaɪ /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a taxonomic kingdom, or in some classification schemes a division of the kingdom Plantae, comprising all the fungus groups and sometimes also the slime molds.

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fungi- ³ American  

1. a combining form representing fungus in compound words.

   fungicide.

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fungi- ¹ British  

combining form

1. fungus

   fungicide

   fungoid

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fungi ² British  

/ ˈfʌndʒaɪ, ˈfʌndʒɪ, ˈfʌŋɡaɪ /

noun

1. a plural of fungus

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fungi Cultural  

1. sing. fungus Plantlike organisms lacking chlorophyll, such as mushrooms, molds, yeasts, and mildews. Modern biologists tend to place fungi in their own kingdom, not in the plant kingdom, because they get their nutrients from other living things (or from the remains of living things that have died) rather than from photosynthesis. (See under “Medicine and Health.”)

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Usage

What does fungi- mean? The combining form fungi- is used like a prefix meaning “fungus.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology. The form fungi- comes from Latin fungus, meaning “fungus.” It is possible that fungus is related to Greek spóngos, meaning "sponge," by way of a long-lost substrate language of the Mediterranean. What are variants of fungi-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, fungi- becomes fung-, as in fungemia.

Etymology

Origin of Fungi

From New Latin; fungus

Example Sentences

It is caused by different types of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens, and major bacterial strains include meningococcal types A, B, C, W, X and Y.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Hanson sees potential harm from foreign seed not adapted to the micro-climate, the contamination by nursery fungi and disruption of the native soil by planting crews trampling around.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

Texas-based company Hiro Technologies has created unbleached disposable diapers that comes with a packet of fungi which is added to the used diaper when it's ready to be thrown away.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

The researchers also discovered that the fungi were able to establish themselves in the simulated lunar soil, which suggests they might only need to be introduced once in a real lunar farming system.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

A curious but beneficial relation between fungi and the roots of higher plants is seriously disrupted.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson