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Mold vs Cactus - What's the difference?

mold | cactus |

As nouns the difference between mold and cactus

is that mold is a hollow form or matrix for shaping a fluid or plastic substance or mold can be (senseid)a natural substance in the form of a woolly or furry growth of tiny fungi that appears when organic material lies for a long time exposed to (usually warm and moist) air or mold can be loose friable soil, rich in humus and fit for planting while cactus is .

As a verb mold

is to shape in or on a mold or mold can be to cause to become moldy; to cause mold to grow upon or mold can be to cover with mold or soil.

mold

English

(wikipedia mold)

Alternative forms

* mould (Commonwealth spelling)

Etymology 1

Via (etyl) and (etyl), from (etyl) modulus

Noun

(en noun)
  • A hollow form or matrix for shaping a fluid or plastic substance.
  • A frame or model around or on which something is formed or shaped.
  • Something that is made in or shaped on a mold.
  • The shape or pattern of a mold.
  • General shape or form.
  • :
  • *(Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
  • *:Crowned with an architrave of antique mould .
  • *
  • *:This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking.Indeed, all his features were in large mold , like the man himself, as though he had come from a day when skin garments made the proper garb of men.
  • Distinctive character or type.
  • :
  • A fixed or restrictive pattern or form.
  • :
  • (lb) A group of moldings.
  • :
  • (lb) A fontanelle.
    • Derived terms
    * break the mold * (archaeology) post mold * (paleontology) fossil mold

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shape in or on a mold.
  • To form into a particular shape; to give shape to.
  • * Job 10:8-9, Old Testament , New International Version:
    • Your hands shaped me and made me....Remember that you molded me like clay.
  • To guide or determine the growth or development of; influence; as, a teacher who helps to mold the minds of his students
  • To fit closely by following the contours of.
  • To make a mold of or from (molten metal, for example) before casting.
  • To ornament with moldings.
  • To be shaped in or as if in a mold.
    • These shoes gradually molded to my feet.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) mowlde, noun use and alteration of mowled, past participle of moulen, 'slick, soft'. More at muck and meek.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (senseid)A natural substance in the form of a woolly or furry growth of tiny fungi that appears when organic material lies for a long time exposed to (usually warm and moist) air.
    • Derived terms
    * moldy, mouldy
    See also
    * mildew

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cause to become moldy; to cause mold to grow upon.
  • To become moldy; to be covered or filled, in whole or in part, with a mold.

    • Etymology 3

    From (etyl) ‘flour’), from *mel''- (compare English ''meal ). More at meal.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Loose friable soil, rich in humus and fit for planting.
    • Derived terms
    * leaf mold

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cover with mold or soil.
    • English terms with multiple etymologies ----

    cactus

    English

    Noun

  • (botany) Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate.
  • Any succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem bearing spines but no leaves, including euphorbs.

    • Usage notes

    In modern English, the term cactus' properly refers to plants belonging to the family Cactaceae. With one exception, all are native to the New World (the Americas). The sole exception is , a jungle epiphyte found in tropical Africa, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka, as well as North and South America. Informally, '''cactus is used to refer to any stem ''succulent'' adapted to a dry climate, notably species from genus ''Euphorbia with forms reminiscent of Cactaceae. To be precise, these succulents are correctly described as "cactoid" or "cactiform" unless they are actual members of the Cactaceae.

    Hypernyms

    * (member of Cactaceae) succulent

    Hyponyms

    * (member of Cactaceae) nopal, saguaro

    Related terms

    * cactaceous * cactal * cactoid

    Derived terms

    * barrel cactus * beehive cactus * bird's nest cactus * cactus cat * cactuslike * cactus wren * compass cactus * crown cactus * dumpling cactus * feather cactus * finger cactus * fishhook cactus * foxtail cactus * hedgehog cactus * horse crippler cactus * ladyfinger cactus * mistletoe cactus * nipple cactus * noncactus * old lady cactus * orchid cactus * organ pipe cactus * pencil cactus * Rainbow cactus * rattail cactus * strawberry cactus * thimble cactus * willow cactus, willow-cactus

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (Australia, NZ, slang) Non-functional, broken, exhausted.
  • * {{quote-newsgroup, title=TV Problems
    • , group=aus.electronics , author=Dave , date=July 8 , year=2001 , passage=I wouldn't mind throwing it away if it's cactus except for the VCR part which works fine, so then I'd be up for a new VCR as well. citation
  • * {{quote-newsgroup, title=water damage ???
    • , group=alt.cellular.nokia , author=AC , date=August 25 , year=2004 , passage=I would say it's cactus . Water conducts & destroys components & PCBs very easily. Hence the water-resistant phones. citation
  • * 2009 , Will Chaffey, Swimming with Crocodiles: An Australian Adventure , page 108,
    • ‘It?s cactus ,’ Rod, the helicopter pilot, said at the sound of the piston ring shattering.

    See also

    * succulent * (Cactus) * English nouns with irregular plurals ----