mildew

¹mil·dew

noun \ˈmil-ˌdü, -ˌdyü\

Definition of MILDEW

1

a : a superficial usually whitish growth produced especially on organic matter or living plants by fungi (as of the families Erysiphaceae and Peronosporaceae)

b : a fungus producing mildew

2

: a discoloration caused by fungi

— mil·dewy \-ē\ adjective

Examples of MILDEW

1. The basement's damp walls were covered with mildew.

Origin of MILDEW

Middle English, from Old English meledēaw honeydew; akin to Old High German militou honeydew

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with MILDEW

accrue, achoo, adieu, ado, Agnew, aircrew, airscrew, anew, askew, babu, Baku, bamboo, battu, battue, bayou, bedew, beshrew, bestrew, bijou, boo-boo, boubou, brand-new, breakthrough, burgoo, cachou, can-do, canoe, caoutchouc, Carew, Cebu, Chonju, construe, Corfu, corkscrew, coypu, CQ, cuckoo, curfew, debut, Depew, doo-doo, ecu, endue, ensue, eschew, floor-through, fondue, fordo, Gansu, Gentoo, Gifu, goo-goo, GQ, ground crew, gumshoe, guru, hairdo, hereto, Hindu, home brew, Honshu, horseshoe, how-to, HQ, Hutu, igloo, imbrue, imbue, IQ, jackscrew, K2, Kansu, karoo, Karoo, kazoo, Khufu, kung fu, Kwangju, leadscrew, lean-to, long view, make-do, Matthew, me-too, milieu, miscue, misdo, muumuu, non-U, old-shoe, one-two, on view, outdo, perdu, Peru, poilu, prau, preview, pursue, purview, ragout, redo, renew, Renfrew, review, revue, rough-hew, run-through, sandshoe, Sardou, see-through, set-to, setscrew, shampoo, sinew, skiddoo, snafu, snowshoe, soft-shoe, span-new, subdue, surtout, taboo, Taegu, tattoo, thank-you, thereto, thumbscrew, to-do, too-too, tree shrew, undo, undue, unglue, unscrew, untrue, vatu, vendue, venue, virtu, voodoo, wahoo, walk-through, wherethrough, whereto, who's who, worldview, yahoo, yoo-hoo

²mildew

verb

Definition of MILDEW

transitive verb

: to affect with or as if with mildew

intransitive verb

: to become affected with mildew

First Known Use of MILDEW

1606

mil·dew

noun \ˈmil-ˌd(y)ü\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of MILDEW

1

: a superficial usually whitish growth produced especially on organic matter or living plants by fungi (as of the families Erysiphaceae and Peronosporaceae)

2

: a fungus producing mildew

mildew

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Conspicuous mass of threadlike hyphae (see mycelium) and fruiting structures produced by various fungi (kingdom Fungi; 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.