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Mildew vs Musty - What's the difference?

mildew | musty |

As a noun mildew

is a growth of minute powdery or webby fungi, whitish or of different colors, found on various diseased or decaying substances.

As a verb mildew

is to taint with mildew.

As an adjective musty is

having a stale odor.

mildew

English

Noun

(-)
  • A growth of minute powdery or webby fungi, whitish or of different colors, found on various diseased or decaying substances.

    • See also

    * mould, mold

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To taint with mildew.
  • * 1605 , , (William Shakespeare), act 3 scene 4
    • He mildews the white wheat.
  • To become tainted with mildew.
  • * 1851 ,
    • His bald purplish head now looked for all the world like a mildewed skull.

    musty

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Having a stale odor.
  • *, chapter=12
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=So, after a spell, he decided to make the best of it and shoved us into the front parlor.