penicillium

American  

[pen-uh-sil-ee-uhm] / ˌpɛn əˈsɪl i əm /

noun

penicilliums, plural penicillia plural

1. any fungus of the genus Penicillium, certain species of which are used in cheesemaking and as the source of penicillin.

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penicillium British  

/ ˌpɛnɪˈsɪlɪəm /

noun

1. any ascomycetous saprotrophic fungus of the genus Penicillium, which commonly grow as a green or blue mould on stale food: some species are used in cheese-making and others as a source of penicillin

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penicillium Scientific  

/ pĕn′ĭ-sĭl′ē-əm /

penicilliums plural

1. Any of various bluish-green fungi of the genus Penicillium, that grow as molds on decaying fruits, ripening cheeses, and bread, and are used to produce penicillin and certain other antibiotics.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• penicilliums
  plural
• penicillia
  plural

Etymology

Origin of penicillium

1925–30; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin pēnicill ( us ) brush ( see pencil) + -ium -ium

Example Sentences

Unlike most molds, Penicillium camemberti can’t reproduce sexually with other fungi to create new genetic diversity.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2024

The fungus Penicillium roqueforti is used worldwide in the production of blue-veined cheese such as Stilton, Roquefort and Gorgonzola.

From Science Daily • Feb. 5, 2024

For instance, Yu says, Penicillium growth on apples and Aspergillus growth on grapes and coffee produce mycotoxins that, even from acute exposures, can cause poisoning or kidney damage.

From National Geographic • Nov. 10, 2023

But they saw something strange when they fed the animals Penicillium camemberti, a fungus used to make camembert and other cheeses.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 8, 2023

This same mould was also found in many cases growing in the same spots amongst Penicillium chartarum, but whether from the same mycelium could not be determined.

From Fungi: Their Nature and Uses by Cooke, M. C. (Mordecai Cubitt)