mycelium

American  

[mahy-see-lee-uhm] / maɪˈsi li əm /

noun

Mycology.

plural

mycelia

1. the mass of hyphae that form the vegetative part of a fungus.

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mycelium British  

/ ˈmaɪsɪˌlɔɪd, maɪˈsiːlɪəm /

noun

1. the vegetative body of fungi: a mass of branching filaments (hyphae) that spread throughout the nutrient substratum

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mycelium Scientific  

/ mī-sē′lē-əm /

plural

mycelia

1. The mass of fine branching tubes (known as hyphae) that forms the main growing structure of a fungus. Visible structures like mushrooms are reproductive structures produced by the mycelium.

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Other Word Forms

• mycelial adjective
• myceloid adjective

Etymology

Origin of mycelium

1830–40; < New Latin, equivalent to Greek myk- myc- + ( h ) ḗl ( os ) wart, nail + New Latin -ium -ium

Example Sentences

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

From Barron's

They included a structure grown from mycelium, the root network of fungus.

From BBC

Or could a mushroom also be synonymous with its fungal roots, otherwise known as mycelium, from which the fruiting bodies sprout?

From Los Angeles Times

Although fungi often bring to mind mushroom caps, fungi also have underground "roots" called mycelia.

From Science Daily

First of all, they are not green and do not engage in photosynthesis, but rather feed on fungal mycelia in the ground.

From Science Daily