mushroom

1 of 2

noun

mush·​room ˈməsh-ˌrüm How to pronounce mushroom (audio)
-ˌru̇m;
 chiefly Northern and Midland US  -ˌrün;
 dialectal  ˈmə-shə-ˌrüm,
-ˌru̇m,
-ˌrün
1
a
: an enlarged complex aboveground fleshy fruiting body of a fungus (such as a basidiomycete) that consists typically of a stem bearing a pileus
especially : one that is edible
b
: fungus
2
3
: something resembling a mushroom

mushroom

2 of 2

verb

mushroomed; mushrooming; mushrooms

intransitive verb

1
a
: to well up and spread out laterally from a central source
b
: to become enlarged or extended : grow
2
: to collect wild mushrooms
3
: to spring up suddenly or multiply rapidly

Examples of mushroom in a Sentence

Noun cut up some mushrooms for the salad Verb Interest in local history is suddenly mushrooming. Her hobby mushroomed into a thriving business. He goes mushrooming in the spring every year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Watercress, Snow Pea and Shiitake Stir-Fry Eating green is easy in this vegan main that combines snow peas with watercress and mushrooms, brightened even more by ginger and orange juice. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024 The other is loaded with pork, shrimp, peas, carrots and mushrooms. Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 23 Mar. 2024 Featured entrees include a mushroom and spinach quiche, salmon and rice pilaf, beef short rib, and traditional breakfast items. Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2024 Handmade tortillas, a blend of corn and flour, blister then swell on the plancha and serve as warm vessels for charcoal-and-wood-grilled steak, pork, chicken and mushroom. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Meat lovers will gravitate towards the Big Basin, loaded with sausage, bacon, ham and cheddar cheese, or the Supreme, with skirt steak, gruyere, onion, pepper and mushrooms. Laura Ness, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 My favorite vegetables for frittatas are leeks, shallots, broccoli, bell peppers, roasted red peppers, baby spinach, fresh tomatoes and mushrooms. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 Farina will serve wild mushroom and black truffle risotto along with beef ragu, vegan and vegetarian mini lasagnas. Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 Morel mushrooms have started popping up in southern Indiana and the tasty morsels will spread north as spring and warmer weather arrives. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
Away from its luxury hotels and affluent suburbs, residents in mushrooming shack settlements without basic services often share a water pump and portable chemical toilets. Lynsey Chutel, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 The one-man sit-in mushroomed in the weeks after the attacks. Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024 Although the museum had pledged as recently as two years ago to spend at least $30 million on the memorial park, the cost has mushroomed since then. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, the cost of Senate races in Arizona has mushroomed in recent years. Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 21 Jan. 2024 From $554 The Hoxton Vienna (Austria) What started out as a single hotel in London’s trendy Hoxton district has mushroomed into a veritable empire of properties in 11 major cities around the world – and the 12th, Vienna, will be graced with a Hoxton in March. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2024 The mushrooming workforce has boosted hiring and eased labor shortages. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024 And mushrooming feral cat populations put native species — particularly birds — at risk. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 Novák did not address the pardon on X. She was forced to cut short her trip to Qatar and return to Budapest to address the mushrooming scandal. Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 10 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mushroom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English musheron, from Anglo-French musherum, musseron, from Late Latin mussirion-, mussirio

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of mushroom was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near mushroom

Cite this Entry

“Mushroom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mushroom. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mushroom

1 of 2 noun
mush·​room ˈməsh-ˌrüm How to pronounce mushroom (audio)
-ˌru̇m
1
: a fleshy part of a fungus that bears spores, grows above ground, and consists usually of a stem bearing a flattened cap
especially : one that is edible
2

mushroom

2 of 2 verb
: to appear or develop suddenly or increase rapidly
the population mushroomed

Medical Definition

mushroom

noun
1
: an enlarged complex fleshy fruiting body of a fungus (as most basidiomycetes) that arises from an underground mycelium and consists typically of a stem bearing a spore-bearing structure
especially : one that is edible compare toadstool
2

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