mildew
[ mil-doo, -dyoo ]
/ ˈmɪlˌdu, -ˌdyu /
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noun
Plant Pathology. a disease of plants, characterized by a cottony, usually whitish coating on the surface of affected parts, caused by any of various fungi.
any of these fungi.Compare downy mildew, powdery mildew.
any of similar coatings or discolorations, caused by fungi, as that which appears on fabrics, paper, leather, etc., when exposed to moisture.
verb (used with or without object)
to affect or become affected with mildew.
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Origin of mildew
before 1000; Middle English: honeydew, mildew; Old English mildēaw, equivalent to mil- honey (cognate with Gothic milith, akin to Latin mel,Greek méli) + dēawdew
OTHER WORDS FROM mildew
mildewy, adjectiveun·mil·dewed, adjectiveWords nearby mildew
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for mildew
British Dictionary definitions for mildew
mildew
/ (ˈmɪlˌdjuː) /
noun
any of various diseases of plants that affect mainly the leaves and are caused by parasitic fungiSee also downy mildew, powdery mildew
any fungus causing this kind of disease
another name for mould 2
verb
to affect or become affected with mildew
Derived forms of mildew
mildewy, adjectiveWord Origin for mildew
Old English mildēaw, from mil- honey (compare Latin mel, Greek mēli) + dēaw dew
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Scientific definitions for mildew
mildew
[ mĭl′dōō′ ]
Any of various fungi or oomycete organisms that form a white or grayish coating on surfaces, such as plant leaves, cloth, or leather, especially under damp, warm conditions. Powdery mildews are important plant diseases usually caused by ascomycete fungi, while downy mildews, including a serious disease of grapevines, are caused by oomycetes.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.