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# fungus

noun (fungus, fungi or funguses; also uncountable)

«fungus» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A fungus is a living thing such as a mushroom, toadstool, mould or yeast that is neither a plant nor an animal; it feeds on dead or living things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fungus/#m1)
2. Fungus is a growth of mould on food, walls or skin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fungus/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons, fungi are decomposers that break down dead leaves and logs; yeast makes bread rise; mould grows on old bread; some fungi cause athlete's foot. In safety, never eat wild mushrooms — some are deadly poisonous. Phrases: «fungus on the bread», «grow fungus», «fungal infection».

### Examples

- A mushroom is a kind of fungus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fungus/#x1)
- Fungi help break down dead leaves on the forest floor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fungus/#x2)
- There's green fungus on that old bread. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fungus/#x3)
- Yeast is a tiny fungus used to make bread. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fungus/#x4)
- Never pick and eat wild fungi. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fungus/#x5)
- Athlete's foot is caused by a fungus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fungus/#x6)
- Fungus grew on the damp wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fungus/#x7)
- But Iktomi's ears were like the fungus on a tree. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fungus/#x8)

### Note

Plural: usually «fungi» (said «FUN-gy» or «FUN-ghee»), sometimes «funguses». Adjective: «fungal». Fungi are not plants: they do not make their own food from sunlight. Not a number word.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «fungus» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fungus/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«fungus» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fungus.html) on Mova free.