Fungus vs Lichen - What's the difference?

fungus | lichen |


As nouns the difference between fungus and lichen

is that fungus is any member of the kingdom Fungi; a eukaryotic organism typically having chitin cell walls but no chlorophyll or plastids. Fungi may be unicellular or multicellular 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.

Other Comparisons: What's the difference?

fungus

English

(wikipedia fungus)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • Any member of the kingdom Fungi; a eukaryotic organism typically having chitin cell walls but no chlorophyll or plastids. Fungi may be unicellular or multicellular.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.}}

    Usage notes

    The plural form (fungi) comes directly from the Latin. See that entry for information about the several English pronunciations in use.

    Synonyms

    * mold, mushroom

    Hyponyms

    * ascomycete, basidiomycete, mushroom, toadstool, yeast

    Derived terms

    * bracket fungus * fungal * fungicidal * fungicide * fungoid * jelly fungus

    Related terms

    * fungous

    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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