Main Entry: pen·i·cil·li·um

Pronunciation: \-ˈsi-lē-əm\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural pen·i·cil·lia \-lē-ə\

Etymology: New Latin, from Latin penicillus

Date: 1867

: any of a genus (Penicillium) of fungi (as a blue mold) that are found chiefly on moist nonliving organic matter (as decaying fruit) and have been grouped with the imperfect fungi but are now often placed with the ascomycetes