Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

toadstool

noun
Save Word
toad·​stool | \ ˈtōd-ˌstül How to pronounce toadstool (audio) \

Definition of toadstool

: a fungus having an umbrella-shaped pileus : mushroom especially : a poisonous or inedible one as distinguished from an edible mushroom

Examples of toadstool in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web My 2-year-old, Winter’s, worst conduct thus far has been mistaking Avalon, her 1-year-old sister, for a toadstool. — Marisha Pessl, New York Times, "Screams. Tears. Meltdowns. New Picture Books Let Bad Behavior Fly, With Just a Bit of Advice," 6 June 2018 During the day, the costumed ensemble hangs around an assortment of toadstool houses in the performance area—a nightmarish fusion of Gaudi and Disney—where visitors snap crouching selfies. — Charlie Campbell / Kunming, Time, "Finding Love in the Kingdom of the Little People," 1 June 2018 The misinformation that sprouts like toadstools on its pages isn’t even the whole of the problem. — Abigail Shrier, WSJ, "Facebook, the Company That Loves Misery," 11 Apr. 2018 The demand was so great that would-be Trump-whisperers were popping up in Washington like toadstools after a rainstorm. — Nicholas Confessore, New York Times, "How to Get Rich in Trump’s Washington," 30 Aug. 2017 His last name has been translated as toadstool, bitchy and pagan, but there is no denying the significance of the museum’s religious treasures. — Joe Grimm, Detroit Free Press, "Travel: Exploring the historic walled cities of northwestern Russia," 15 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'toadstool.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of toadstool

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about toadstool

Statistics for toadstool

Time Traveler for toadstool

The first known use of toadstool was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for toadstool

toadstool

noun
How to pronounce toadstool (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of toadstool

: a kind of fungus that is similar to a mushroom, that consists of a round cap on a short stem, and that is often poisonous

See the full definition for toadstool in the English Language Learners Dictionary

toadstool

noun
toad·​stool | \ ˈtōd-ˌstül How to pronounce toadstool (audio) \

Kids Definition of toadstool

: a mushroom especially when poisonous or unfit for food

toadstool

noun
toad·​stool | \ -ˌstül How to pronounce toadstool (audio) \

Medical Definition of toadstool

: a fungus having an umbrella-shaped pileus : mushroom especially : a poisonous or inedible one as distinguished from an edible mushroom

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on toadstool

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with toadstool

Spanish Central: Translation of toadstool

Nglish: Translation of toadstool for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about toadstool

Comments on toadstool

What made you want to look up toadstool? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

expedite

Listen to the pronounciation of expedite

to speed up the process or progress of

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Pass the Little Ribbons: A Pasta Word Quiz

  • pasta resembling wheels with spokes
  • Match the pasta to its meaning in English: Rotelle
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games