Definition

A type of mold that is usually bluish-green and belongs to a specific group of fungi. These fungi grow on decaying organic matter and are important for making antibiotics like penicillin and certain types of cheese.

Example

The cheese was flavored with a special type of penicillium that gave it a unique taste.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of penicillium?

Yeah, it’s that mold that grows on old fruit, right?

Exactly! It’s also used to make some types of cheese.

That's interesting! I didn't know it had such a useful side.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Penicillium → It is derived from the Latin word "penicillus" (meaning little tail), which refers to the brush-like appearance of the fungal spores. The suffix "-ium" is commonly used in biological taxonomy to denote a genus or group. Thus, "penicillium" refers to a genus of fungi that have a tail-like structure in their spore formation.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny 'tail' ('penicillus') that looks like a brush, which helps you remember that 'penicillium' refers to a type of fungus with a brush-like appearance.

Visually Confused Words