Main Entry: ba·sid·io·my·cete

Pronunciation: \bə-ˌsi-dē-ō-ˈmī-ˌsēt, -ˌmī-ˈsēt\

Function: noun

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

Date: 1899

: 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)

— ba·sid·io·my·ce·tous \-dē-ō-ˌmī-ˈsē-təs\ adjective