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

"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

As the couple knelt down and began digging around the object, Colin wondered if it was some kind of strange fungal growth, a giant puffball.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 3, 2021

He had found some young puffball mushrooms and a plum tree covered with purple plums which had ripened and dried almost to prunes, when he spotted the bird in the undergrowth.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman