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• morel
  morel

  noun

  any edible mushroom of the genus Morchella, especially M. esculenta.
• Morel
  Morel

  noun

  Jean 1903–75, French orchestra conductor.

morel

¹ American  

[muh-rel] / məˈrɛl /

noun

1. any edible mushroom of the genus Morchella, especially M. esculenta.

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morel ² American  

[muh-rel] / məˈrɛl /

Or morelle

noun

1. any of several nightshades, especially the black nightshade.

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Morel ³ American  

[maw-rel, maw-rel] / mɔˈrɛl, mɔˈrɛl /

noun

1. Jean 1903–75, French orchestra conductor.

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morel British  

/ mɒˈrɛl /

noun

1. any edible saprotrophic ascomycetous fungus of the genus Morchella, in which the mushroom has a pitted cap: order Pezizales

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Etymology

Origin of morel¹

1665–75; < French, Middle French morille, perhaps < Vulgar Latin *maurīcula, derivative of Medieval Latin maurus brown, dark-colored; see morel ², -cule ¹

Origin of morel²

1350–1400; Middle English morel ( l ) e < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin maurella, equivalent to maur ( us ) brown, dark-colored (adj. use of Latin Maurus Moor ) + -ella -elle

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Explanation

A morel is a delicious, but strange-looking, mushroom. These fungi are considered delicacies, and you're most likely to find morels on the menu of a very fancy restaurant. There are several varieties of these distinctive mushrooms, which have pitted or honeycombed caps, though there's disagreement about which can be considered true morels. The most sought-after of these tasty fungi grow wild in forests across the Northern Hemisphere, although they're also cultivated as part of a multimillion-dollar industry. French restaurants and gourmet cooks pay over 20 dollars per pound for morels. A possible source of morel, and the French morille, is a Germanic word meaning "root."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

morel Morel

“When I started to discover the fresh morel concept, it was a whole other world. So I really do highly recommend them.”

From Salon ● Mar. 22, 2025

And like the community’s morel mushrooms that seem to grow well over shallow, hastily dug graves, there’s a sense of mulchy inevitability about it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2025

Hollow is a good sign—that means the morel is safe to eat.

From National Geographic ● May 30, 2023

J. Hollinger’s juicy brined pork chop could stand on its own, but how much nicer to see it presented atop lemony spaetzle with bright English peas, dark kale and a curtain of morel cream sauce?

From Washington Post ● Jun. 24, 2022

"See? See? That's what you'll get! I meant that! There isn't a tribe for you any morel The conch is gone-" He ran forward, stooping.

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

The Morel Corp. is building a stately eco dome on a remote Greek island: a refuge for plutocratic preppers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Morel added his department was keen to help retailers and shop landlords as much as they could.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2025

Messrs. Morel and White remind us that in an age as fractured as their own, Lincoln and Douglass upheld dignity and compassion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

Ms Morel said: "Touring the private museum was fun, insightful, and a privilege. As the video shows, each piece holds stories that must be saved and shared."

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2024

And I will at once proceed to arrange for an annuity to Morel, the worthy but unfortunate parent of Louise.

From The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 6 of 6 by Eugène Sue

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