agaric

[ ag-uh-rik, uh-gar-ik ]

noun

1. any fungus of the family Agaricaceae, including several common edible mushrooms.

agaric

/ əˈɡærɪk; əˌɡærɪˈkeɪʃəs; ˈæɡərɪk /

noun

1. any saprotrophic basidiomycetous fungus of the family Agaricaceae, having gills on the underside of the cap. The group includes the edible mushrooms and poisonous forms such as the fly agaric
2. the dried spore-producing bodies of certain fungi, esp Polyphorus officinalis (or Boletus laricis ), formerly used in medicine

Derived Forms

• agaricaceous, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of agaric¹

1525–35; < New Latin Agaricus genus name < Greek agarikós (adj.) pertaining to Agaría, a town in Sarmatis; neuter agarikón used as noun, name of some fungi

Word History and Origins

Origin of agaric¹

C16: via Latin agaricum, from Greek agarikon, perhaps named after Agaria, a town in Sarmatia

Example Sentences

In some versions of the theory, the shaman used reindeer to detoxify the fly agaric by feeding it to them and then ingesting their urine.

From National Geographic

Well, fly agaric mushrooms are scattered across the globe, on every continent except Antarctica.

From Salon

Chillum, a mushroom and hemp dispensary in Ybor City near Tampa Bay, sells grow kits, spores and mycology cultures for Amanita muscaria, the fly agaric mushroom.

From Salon

Over the next weeks, my finds range from lavender-hued wood blewits to groups of the local variety of fly agaric, whose warty, fairy-tale caps age into yellow stars.

From Salon

In winter, keep an eye out for red and white-speckled fly agaric mushrooms or the booted knight mushroom.

From The Guardian