puffball

American  

[puhf-bawl] / ˈpʌfˌbɔl /

noun

1. any of various basidiomycetous fungi, especially of the genus Lycoperdon and allied genera, characterized by a ball-like fruit body that emits a cloud of spores when broken.

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puffball British  

/ ˈpʌfˌbɔːl /

noun

1. any of various basidiomycetous saprotrophic fungi of the genera Calvatia and Lycoperdon, having a round fruiting body that discharges a cloud of brown spores when mature

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Etymology

Origin of puffball

First recorded in 1640–50; puff + ball ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

puffball

"A giant puffball is the most easily recognisable 'forageable' mushroom," she said.

From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2024

Death cap mushrooms, for example, have been spreading throughout the western U.S. and look similar to the common puffball.

From National Geographic ● Feb. 14, 2024

The highest mushroom discovered was a puffball found at 17,037 feet, just below Everest Base Camp at 17,598 feet.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 18, 2022

Tan, coached by 1998 Wimbledon finalist Nathalie Tauziat, lacks pure power and has a puffball second serve, but she understands tennis geometry and has an unconventional tool set that is well suited to grass.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 28, 2022

But my grandfather’s Third Wife was black with hair so soft that it would not hang, instead blowing up into a great brown puffball.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston