lichen
noun · verb
Simple meaning
Any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of algae and fungi, often found as white or yellow-to-blue–green patches on rocks, old walls.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
lykuhnSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈlaɪkən
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
Any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of algae and fungi, often found as white or yellow-to-blue–green patches on rocks, old walls, etc.
figurative
Something which gradually spreads across something else, causing damage.
verb
transitive
To cover with lichen.
Word at a Glance
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Formality
- Technical
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
An eruption of shiny flat-topped purplish (usually itchy) papules on the wrist and forearms and thighs.
An eruption of shiny flat-topped purplish (usually itchy) papules on the wrist and forearms and thighs.
Greenish grey pendulous lichen growing on trees.
Any of several lichens of the genus Alectoria having a thallus consisting of filaments resembling hair.
Any of several lichens of the genus Alectoria having a thallus consisting of filaments resembling hair.
Lichen with branched flattened partly erect thallus that grows in mountainous and Arctic regions.
Related words
Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.
Comprising the lichens which grow symbiotically with algae.
Category used especially in former classifications for organisms now constituting the division Lichenes.
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
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