mildew

[ mil-doo, -dyoo ]

See synonyms for mildew on Thesaurus.com

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.

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, adjective
un·mil·dewed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mildew in a sentence

Among the useful plants preyed upon by mildews are the plum, cherry, and peach trees.
A Civic Biology | George William Hunter
In the grape regions of the South and Southwest, it is too susceptible to fungi especially the mildews and black-rot.
The Grapes of New York | U. P. Hedrick
As both outside and spool plates are perforated, my line never mildews or gets tender.
Fishing With The Fly | Charles F. Orvis and Others
The vine is susceptible to the mildews and in many localities does not yield well.
Manual of American Grape-Growing | U. P. Hedrick
Owing to their appearance they go by the popular name of mildews.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for mildew

mildew

/ (ˈmɪlˌdjuː) /

noun

any of various diseases of plants that affect mainly the leaves and are caused by parasitic fungi: See 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

Origin of mildew

Old English mildēaw, from mil- honey (compare Latin mel, Greek mēli) + dēaw dew

Derived forms of mildew

mildewy, adjective

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

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.

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