death cap

noun

: a very poisonous mushroom (Amanita phalloides) of deciduous woods of North America and Europe that varies in color from pure white to olive or yellow and has a prominent volva at the base

called also death cup

Examples of death cap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Another frequent call concerns the death cap mushroom, Amanita phalloides, the deadliest of all mushrooms. Sara Okeefe, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024 The death cap can vary greatly in size and color, reaching anywhere from a mere inch to 8 inches across, and come in a range of shades of white, green, yellow and brown. Julia Lamont, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024 Deadly mushrooms in Marin The most dangerous varieties found in Marin — for both dogs and people — are the death cap (Amanita phalloides) and destroying angel (Amanita ocreata). Julia Lamont, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024 Authorities suspect death cap mushrooms were behind the fatalities. Steve Mollman, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2023 Read more: Beware of deadly wild mushrooms: Portage County man survives poisoning, thanks to experimental drug at UH - cleveland.com In common parlance, these mushrooms are referred to as destroying angels or death cap mushrooms. Gretchen Cuda Kroen, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2023 Police have previously said that all four of Patterson’s guests showed symptoms consistent with poisoning by death cap mushrooms, a particularly deadly variety, although the official cause of death has not yet been confirmed. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC News, 14 Aug. 2023 True to its name, the death cap is one of the world’s most lethal mushrooms. Bycatherine Offord, science.org, 2 Feb. 2023 It’s also found in plant species that have been used for rituals, as well as in some fungi, including the false death cap (Amanita citrina). Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'death cap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of death cap was in 1925

Dictionary Entries Near death cap

Cite this Entry

“Death cap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/death%20cap. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

death cap

noun
: a very poisonous mushroom that varies in color from pure white to olive to yellow and has an obvious swollen covering about the base

called also death cup

Medical Definition

death cap

noun
: a very poisonous mushroom of the genus Amanita (A. phalloides) of deciduous woods of North America and Europe that varies in color from pure white to olive or yellow and has a prominent volva at the base

called also death cup

see thioctic acid
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