# fungus

/ˈfəŋɡəs/ (US) · /fˈʌŋɡəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fungus
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. biological organism

noun · CEFR B2

a type of living thing like a mushroom or yeast that grows on plants, animals, or old food.

For teachers: any member of the kingdom Fungi, characterized by chitin cell walls and a lack of chlorophyll; includes both unicellular and multicellular organisms.

- The damp wood in the garden was covered in a strange orange fungus.
- Biologists discovered a rare species of fungus that thrives in the extreme conditions of the rainforest floor, breaking down organic matter with remarkable speed.

### 2. medical growth

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a soft, spongy growth that sometimes forms on a wound or skin.

For teachers: a spongy, abnormal excrescence, such as excessive granulation tissue formed during the healing of a wound.

- The old medical book described a fungus growing over the patient's injury.
- The surgeon noted the presence of a morbid fungus around the edges of the incision, a term used in nineteenth-century texts to describe proud flesh.

## Examples

- White fungus grows on old bread.
- The doctor prescribed cream to treat the skin fungus.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.