fungi

¹

[fuhn-jahy, fuhng-gahy]

plural noun

1. a plural of fungus.

Fungi

²

[fuhn-jahy, fuhng-gahy]

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.

fungi-

³

1. a combining form representing fungus in compound words.

   fungicide.

fungi-

¹

combining form

1. fungus

   fungicide

   fungoid

fungi

²

/ ˈfʌndʒaɪ, ˈfʌndʒɪ, ˈfʌŋɡaɪ /

noun

1. a plural of fungus

fungi

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.”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of fungi¹

From New Latin; fungus

Example Sentences

In the U.S., foreign mussels are wreaking havoc in the Great Lakes, invasive fungi are threatening trees in Hawaii and non-native carp are invading rivers and lakes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Deadwood-decomposing fungi feed germinating orchids, providing the carbon their tiny seeds don't have.

Read more on Science Daily

Plantlife's annual survey found hundreds of new sites for pink waxcap and violet coral across the country, with North Yorkshire emerging as a "hotspot" for the fungi, the charity said.

Read more on BBC

He wants to encourage people to embrace the new species, and take more time in the forest, paying attention to the estimated 20,000 species of animal plants and fungi in the area.

Read more on BBC

Her duties include keeping them clean and free from fungi, bacteria and algae.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When To Use

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.