haustorium

[haw-stawr-ee-uh m, -stohr-]

noun, plural haus·to·ri·a

[haw-stawr-ee-uh, -stohr-] /hɔˈstɔr i ə, -ˈstoʊr-/.

a projection from the hypha of a fungus into the organic matter from which it absorbs nutrients.
the penetrating feeding organ of certain parasites.

Origin of haustorium

1870–75; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin haus- (variant stem of haurīre to draw, scoop up) + -tōrium -tory²

Related formshaus·to·ri·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for haustoria

haustorium

noun plural -ria (-rɪə)

the organ of a parasitic plant that penetrates the host tissues and absorbs food and water from them

Derived Formshaustorial, adjective

Word Origin for haustorium

C19: from New Latin, from Late Latin haustor a water-drawer; see haustellum

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

haustoria in Science

haustorium

[hô-stôr′ē-əm]

Plural haustoria

A specialized absorbing structure of a parasitic fungus or plant, such as the rootlike outgrowth of the dodder, that obtains food from a host plant. In parasitic fungi, haustoria are specialized hyphae that penetrate the cells of other organisms and absorb nutrients directly from them.