anthracnose

noun

an·​thrac·​nose an-ˈthrak-ˌnōs 

: any of numerous destructive plant diseases caused by imperfect fungi and characterized especially by necrotic lesions

Examples of anthracnose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Common pests for figs include ants, mealybugs, scale, and borers, while common diseases are fig rust, anthracnose, and fig mosaic virus. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 6 Mar. 2026

Disease While dogwood anthracnose (Discula destructiva) doesn't affect the number of blooms directly, the fungus, which starts out as leaf spots, can spread and cause dark lesions (cankers) that can kill the branches and, eventually, kill the tree. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026

Pests and Problems Fungal diseases, including anthracnose, powdery mildew, and phytophthora, can afflict bay leaf plants. —Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2025

Sadly, sycamores are sometimes affected by a disfiguring fungal disease called anthracnose. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from Greek anthrak-, ánthrax "charcoal, dark red precious stone, dark skin lesion" + nósos "disease" — more at anthrax, nosology

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for anthracnose

• agarose
• aliquots
• amigos
• bottlenose
• buffaloes
• bungalows
• calicoes
• cameos
• commandos
• conversos
• decompose
• dominoes