oidium

noun

oid·​i·​um ō-ˈi-dē-əm How to pronounce oidium (audio)
plural oidia ō-ˈi-dē-ə How to pronounce oidium (audio)
1
a
: any of a genus (Oidium of the family Moniliaceae) of imperfect fungi many of which are now considered to be conidial stages of various powdery mildews
b
: one of the small conidia borne in chains by various fungi (such as an oidium)

called also arthrospore

2
: a powdery mildew especially of grapes caused by an oidium

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from o- + -idium

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of oidium was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near oidium

Cite this Entry

“Oidium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oidium. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

oidium

noun
oid·​ium ō-ˈid-ē-əm How to pronounce oidium (audio)
1
capitalized : a genus of imperfect fungi of the family Moniliaceae including many which are now considered to be conidial stages of various powdery mildews
2
plural oidia -ē-ə How to pronounce oidium (audio) : any fungus of the genus Oidium
3
plural oidia : arthroconidium

More from Merriam-Webster on oidium

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!