fruiting body

noun

plural fruiting bodies

: a structure (as of a moss or liverwort) specialized for producing spores

especially : the spore-producing organ of a fungus or slime mold : sporophore

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Both the fruiting body and mycelium have compounds with potential health benefits. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Feb. 2023

Like many fungi, they’re composed of a visible fruiting body (the mushroom itself) and the mycelium–the bottom structure that looks like roots. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Feb. 2023

It's made up of only natural, organic components, including a unique combination of fresh reishi fruiting body, captis root, pleurisy root, and fresh marshmallow root! —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2022

This stalk is fruiting body of the fungus, which will produce new spores that rain down onto the unlucky ants below. —Sarah Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2012

By then, the spores attached to the fungus' fruiting body, which has emerged from the ant's head, have almost fully matured. —Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010

Nootropics Depot's certified organic whole fruiting body extracts are thoroughly tested to ensure low starch content and an accurate percentage of beta glucans. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 13 Oct. 2022

The fruiting body of a parasitic fungus erupts from the body of its victim. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Aug. 2022

If the mushroom is the fruiting body (think apples or oranges), the mycelium is the rest of the tree: roots, branches, and all. —William Ralston, Wired, 26 July 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fruiting body

noun

: a plant organ specialized for producing spores

Medical Definition

fruiting body

noun

fruit·​ing body ˈfrüt-iŋ- 

: a plant organ specialized for producing spores

especially : sporophore