mildew

mildew
mildewy, adj.
/mil"dooh', -dyooh'/, n.
1. Plant Pathol. a disease of plants, characterized by a cottony, usually whitish coating on the surface of affected parts, caused by any of various fungi.
2. any of these fungi. Cf. downy mildew, powdery mildew.
3. any of similar coatings or discolorations, caused by fungi, as that which appears on fabrics, paper, leather, etc., when exposed to moisture.
v.t., v.i.
4. to affect or become affected with mildew.
[bef. 1000; ME: honeydew, mildew; OE mildeaw, equiv. to mil- honey (c. Goth milith, akin to L mel, Gk méli) + deaw DEW]

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Conspicuous mass of threadlike hyphae (see mycelium) and fruiting structures produced by various fungi (division Mycota; see fungus).

Mildew grows on cloth, fibres, leather goods, and plants, using these substances as food for growth and reproduction. Downy mildew and powdery mildew are plant diseases that affect hundreds of species.

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      a conspicuous mass of threadlike hyphae and fruiting structures produced by various fungi (kingdom Fungi). It is associated with cloth, fibres, leather goods, and plant diseases ( downy mildew and powdery mildew [qq.v.]). The fungi use these substances as sources of food for growth and reproduction.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • mildew — [mil′do͞o΄, mil′dyo͞o΄] n. [ME mildewe < OE meledeaw, nectar, lit., honeydew, akin to Goth milith, honey < IE base * melit (> L mel, Gr meli, honey) + base of OE deaw,DEW] 1. a thin, furry, usually whitish coating or discoloration,… …   English World dictionary

  • Mildew — Mil dew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mildewed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Mildewing}.] To taint with mildew; as, mildewed clothing. [1913 Webster] He . . . mildews the white wheat. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mildew — Mil dew, v. i. To become tainted with mildew. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mildew — Mil dew, n. [AS. melede[ a]w; akin to OHG. militou, G. mehlthau, mehltau; prob. orig. meaning, honeydew; cf. Goth. milip honey. See {Mellifluous}, and {Dew}.] (Bot.) A growth of minute powdery or webby fungi, whitish or of different colors, found …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mildew — (n.) mid 13c., mildeu honeydew, nectar, from O.E. meledeaw honeydew (sticky stuff exuded by aphids), from P.Gmc. compound of *melith honey (see MELISSA (Cf. Melissa)) + *dawwaz dew (see DEW (Cf. dew)). Cf. O.S. milidou, Du …   Etymology dictionary

  • mildew — ► NOUN ▪ a coating of minute fungi on plants or damp organic material such as paper or leather. ► VERB ▪ affect with mildew. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • Mildew — (engl., spr. milldju), Meltau des Weinstocks, s. Peronospora …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Mildew — Example of downy mildew (left) along with powdery mildew on a grape leaf …   Wikipedia

  • mildew — mil•dew [[t]ˈmɪlˌdu, ˌdyu[/t]] n. 1) ppa a disease of plants, characterized by a cottony, usu. whitish coating on the affected parts, caused by any of various fungi 2) fng any of these fungi, esp. downy mildew or powdery mildew 3) fng any similar …   From formal English to slang

  • mildew — I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English meledēaw honeydew; akin to Old High German militou honeydew Date: 14th century 1. a. a superficial usually whitish growth produced especially on organic matter or living plants by fungi (as of… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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