pileus

American  

[pahy-lee-uhs, pil-ee-] / ˈpaɪ li əs, ˈpɪl i- /

noun

plural

pilei, pileus

1. Mycology. the horizontal portion of a mushroom, bearing gills, tubes, etc., on its underside; a cap.

2. Zoology.

   1. the umbrella or bell of a jellyfish.

   2. pileum.

3. Also called cap cloud.  Also called scarf cloud.  Meteorology. a small, thin cloud just above or attached to a growing cumulus cloud.

4. a felt skullcap worn by the ancient Romans and Greeks.

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pileus British  

/ ˈpɪl-, ˈpaɪlɪəs /

noun

1. the upper cap-shaped part of a mushroom or similar spore-producing body

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pileus Scientific  

/ pī′lē-əs /

plural

pilei

1. The umbrellalike fruiting structure forming the top of a fleshy fungus. It is supported by the stipe. The cap of a mushroom is a pileus.

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Etymology

Origin of pileus

1750–60; < New Latin, special use of Latin pīleus skullcap; akin to Greek pîlos felt, felt cap

Example Sentences

Pileus glabrous or covered with superficial white fibrils, not viscid but moist when growing, discoloured when dry; flesh very thin, splitting, disc rarely compact.

From European Fungus Flora: Agaricaceae by Massee, George

Pileus entire, extended laterally, excentric but not truly lateral.

From European Fungus Flora: Agaricaceae by Massee, George

Pileus not broken up into scales. cotoneus, Fr.

From European Fungus Flora: Agaricaceae by Massee, George

B. Pileus even, glabrous, neither villose, scaly nor viscid.

From European Fungus Flora: Agaricaceae by Massee, George

Pileus rather fleshy, convex then flattened or depressed, polished; g. adnate; dingy, becoming pale.

From European Fungus Flora: Agaricaceae by Massee, George