A fungus that grows on damp surfaces and appears as white or gray powder or slimy coating.
From Old English 'mildéaw'—'mil-' (honey) plus '-dew' (the substance). Anglo-Saxons named it for its honeyed appearance, though the 'sweetness' is misleading!
Despite its gentle-sounding name, mildew can actually damage buildings and textiles permanently, and the same fungus family includes powdery mildew that destroys crops worth billions annually!
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