Funguslike

/ˈfʌŋɡəslaɪk/ adjective

Definition

Resembling a fungus in appearance, texture, or growth pattern; having characteristics similar to fungi.

Etymology

Compound word from fungus + like (Old English gelīc, meaning similar). The 'like' suffix has been productive in English for over a thousand years for creating similarity comparisons.

Kelly Says

This word is useful in biology because some organisms and structures behave like fungi without actually being fungi—certain bacteria form funguslike biofilms, and parasitic growths can have that same spongy, spreading quality.

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