basidiomycete

noun

ba·​sid·​io·​my·​cete bə-ˌsi-dē-ō-ˈmī-ˌsēt 

-ˌmī-ˈsēt

: any of a group of higher fungi that have septate hyphae and spores borne on a basidium, that include rusts, smuts, mushrooms, and puffballs, and that are variously considered to comprise a class (Basidiomycetes), a subdivision (Basidiomycotina), or a division (Basidiomycota)

basidiomycetous

bə-ˌsi-dē-ō-ˌmī-ˈsē-təs 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from New Latin basidium + Greek mykēt-, mykēs fungus; akin to Greek myxa mucus — more at mucus

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

basidiomycete

noun

ba·​sid·​io·​my·​cete bə-ˌsid-ē-ō-ˈmī-ˌsēt  -ˌmī-ˈsēt 

: any of a group of higher fungi that have septate hyphae and spores borne on a basidium produced directly from the mycelium or as an outgrowth of a spore, that include rusts, smuts, and numerous edible forms (as many mushrooms), and that are variously considered to comprise a class (Basidiomycetes), a subdivision (Basidiomycotina), or a division (Basidiomycota)

basidiomycetous

-mī-ˈsēt-əs 

adjective