Fungi

¹

[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

²

[fuhn-jahy, fuhng-gahy]

plural noun

1. a plural of fungus.

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

I learned to forage fungi in my 20s, wandering the woods of my home state, Pennsylvania, July through October, figuring out which were toxic and which were delicious.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Because of these challenges, microbial proteins found in yeast and fungi have gained attention as promising alternatives to meat.

Read more on Science Daily

There are snakes that shrink their intestines and rebuild their hearts, frogs that freeze and fungi that harness radiation.

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The Fen Orchid typically grows among reeds nestled in moss that retains moisture and relies on the presence of specific moss and fungi to grow.

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These are placed into moulds, where mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi, takes over.

Read more on Barron's

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.