Mold

Mold
A large group of fungi (like Penicillium) that cause mold (as on bread or cheese). A common trigger for allergies.
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1. A filamentous fungus, generally a circular colony that may be cottony, wooly, etc., or glabrous, but with filaments not organized into large fruiting bodies, such as mushrooms. 2. A shaped receptacle into which wax is pressed or fluid plaster is poured in making a cast. 3. To shape a mass of plastic material according to a definite pattern. 4. To change in shape; denoting especially the adaptation of the fetal head to the pelvic canal. 5. The term used to specify the shape of an artificial tooth (or teeth). SYN: mould.
- pink bread m. SYN: Neurospora.

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mold or chiefly Brit mould 'mōld n a cavity in which a fluid or malleable substance is shaped
mold or chiefly Brit mould vt to give shape to esp. in a mold
mold or chiefly Brit mould vi to become moldy
mold or chiefly Brit mould n
1) a superficial often woolly growth produced esp. on damp or decaying organic matter or on living organisms
2) a fungus (as of the order Mucorales) that produces mold

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(mōld) [Middle English moulde] 1. an imprecise term used to refer to any member of one of the two largest groupings of fungi (the other being the yeasts); molds are parasitic and saprobic, and most exist as multicellular filamentous colonies. Common molds are Mucor, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Aspergillus. See illustration. 2. the deposit or growth produced by such a fungus. 3. a form in which an object is given shape; see also cast. 4. an object so shaped. 5. the act of so forming or shaping.

Characteristic structures of common molds. (A), Sporangia of Absidia arising from a stolon; (B), conidiophores and conidia of Aspergillus; (C), brushlike conidiophores and parallel chains of conidia of Penicillium; (D), sporangiophores of Rhizopus arising from a node above the rhizoids.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • mold — mold·abil·i·ty; mold·able; mold·i·ness; mold·ing; mold; mold·man; mold·wrap; re·mold; un·mold; mold·er; mold·i·warp; …   English syllables

  • mold — mold1 [mōld] n. [ME moolde < OFr molle, earlier modle < L modulus: see MODULE] 1. a pattern, hollow form, or matrix for giving a certain shape to something in a plastic or molten state 2. a frame, shaped core, etc. on or around which… …   English World dictionary

  • Mold — Mold, Mould Mould, n. [OE. molde, OF. mole, F. moule, fr. L. modulus. See {Model}.] [For spelling, see 2d {Mold}, above.] 1. The matrix, or cavity, in which anything is shaped, and from which it takes its form; also, the body or mass containing… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mold — Mold, Mould Mould, v. t. [Cf. F. mouler, OF. moler, moller. See {Mold} the matrix.] 1. To form into a particular shape; to shape; to model; to fashion. [1913 Webster] He forgeth and moldeth metals. Sir M. Hale. [1913 Webster] Did I request thee,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mold — Mold, Mould Mould, n. [OE. molde, AS. molde; akin to D. mul, G. mull, mulm, OHG. molt, molta, Icel. mold, Dan. muld, Sw. mull, Goth. mulda, and E. meal flour. See {Meal}, and cf. {Mole} an animal, {Mull}, v.] [The prevalent spelling is, perhaps,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mold — Ⅰ. mold [1] (Brit. mould) ► NOUN 1) a hollow container used to give shape to molten or hot liquid material when it cools and hardens. 2) something made in this way, especially a jelly or mousse. 3) a distinctive type, style, or character. ► VERB… …   English terms dictionary

  • mold|y — «MOHL dee», adjective, mold|i|er, mold|i|est. 1. covered with mold: »a moldy crust of bread, moldy cheese. 2. musty, as from decay or age: »a moldy smell …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mold — Mold, Mould Mould, n. [From the p. p. of OE. moulen to become moldy, to rot, prob. fr. Icel. mygla to grow musty, mugga mugginess; cf. Sw. m[ o]gla to grow moldy. See {Muggy}, and cf. {Moldy}.] (Bot.) A growth of minute fungi of various kinds,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mold — Mold, Mould Mould, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Molded} or {Moulded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Molding} or {Moulding}.] To cover with mold or soil. [R.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mold — Mold, Mould Mould, v. t. To cause to become moldy; to cause mold to grow upon. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mold — Mold, Mould Mould, v. i. To become moldy; to be covered or filled, in whole or in part, with a mold. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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