conidium

[ koh-nid-ee-uh m, kuh- ]

/ koʊˈnɪd i əm, kə- /

noun, plural co·nid·i·a [koh-nid-ee-uh, kuh-] /koʊˈnɪd i ə, kə-/. Botany.

(in fungi) an asexual spore formed by abstriction at the top of a hyphal branch.

Nearby words

conical pendulum, conicity, conicoid, conics, conidiophore, conidium, conifer, coniferin, coniferous, coniine, conin

Origin of conidium

1865–70; < Greek kón(is) dust (akin to incinerate) + -idium

Related forms

co·nid·i·al, co·nid·i·an, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for conidia

Besides the special ascocarps, accessory reproductive organs are known in the majority of cases in the form of conidia.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3|Various
Pythium is of interest as illustrating the dependence of zoospore-formation on conditions and the indeterminate nature of conidia.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3|Various
The detached cells are the conidia of our fungus; only one is formed on each stalk.
Fungi: Their Nature and Uses|Mordecai Cubitt Cooke
It remains solid and filled with protoplasm as far as the portion which forms the end through its conidia.
Fungi: Their Nature and Uses|Mordecai Cubitt Cooke

Mycelium well developed; sexual reproduction by zygospores; asexual reproduction by sporangia and conidia.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for conidia

conidium

/ (kəʊˈnɪdɪəm) /

noun plural -nidia (-ˈnɪdɪə)

an asexual spore formed at the tip of a specialized hypha (conidiophore) in fungi such as Penicillium

Derived Forms

conidial or conidian, adjective

Word Origin for conidium

C19: from New Latin, from Greek konis dust + ium

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for conidia

conidium

[ kə-nĭd′ē-əm ]

n. pl. co•nid•i•a (-ē-ə)

An asexually produced fungal spore, formed on a conidiophore.

Related forms

co•nid′i•al adj.

Science definitions for conidia

conidium

[ kə-nĭd′ē-əm ]

Plural conidia

An asexually produced fungal spore, formed on a conidiophore. Most conidia are dispersed by the wind and can endure extremes of cold, heat, and dryness. When conditions are favorable, they germinate and grow into hyphae.