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Algae vs Lichen - What's the difference?

algae | lichen |

As nouns the difference between algae and lichen

is that algae is irregular plural of alga while lichen is any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of fungi and algae; often found as white or yellow patches on old walls, etc.

algae

English

Noun

(head)
  • (alga)
  • Anagrams

    * ----

    alga

    English

    (wikipedia alga)

    Noun

    (algae)
  • (biology) Any of many aquatic photosynthetic organisms, whose size ranges from a single cell to giant kelps and whose form is very diverse; some are eukaryotic and some prokaryotic; includes the seaweeds.
  • Usage notes

    * (term) is a non-standard plural.

    Hyponyms

    * seaweed

    lichen

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of fungi and algae; often found as white or yellow patches on old walls, etc.
  • * 1894 — (Rudyard Kipling), , Lukannon
  • The Beaches of Lukannon–the winter wheat so tall–
    The dripping, crinkled lichens , and the sea-fog drenching all!
  • * 1895 — , , ch XI
  • It was the same rich green that one sees on forest moss or on the lichen in caves: plants which like these grow in a perpetual twilight.
  • * 1915 — (John Muir), , ch V
  • The nibble marks of the stone adze were still visible, though crusted over with scale lichens in most places.
  • (figurative) Something which spreads across something else, causing damage.
  • *
  • Meanwhile, abiding a day of judgment, she fought ceaselessly to deny the bitter drops in her cup, to tear back the slow, the intangibly slow growth of a hot, corrosive lichen eating into her heart.

    Synonyms

    * (something which spreads) (l)

    Derived terms

    * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l)

    See also

    * (lichen) * algae * fungus * Iceland moss * moss * reindeer moss

    References

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