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fruiting body
noun
plural fruiting bodies
: a structure (as of a moss or liverwort) specialized for producing spores
especially
: the spore-producing organ of a fungus or slime mold : sporophore
Examples of fruiting body in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After 6 to 12 months or so, the fruiting bodies (the mushrooms) begin to appear on the surface of the logs, first as rounded buttons.
—
Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2024
Invigorated by the damp, fungi living quietly in the soil sprout fruiting bodies.
—
Rachel Bujalski Veronique Greenwood, New York Times, 11 June 2024
Technically not mushrooms, which have a cap and stalk, the fruiting bodies are blob- to cup-shaped, while the fungus itself lives hidden underground.
—
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 May 2024
Some of these organisms, living as a network of threads hidden in the soil, may not have sent up a fruiting body in years.
—
Rachel Bujalski Veronique Greenwood, New York Times, 11 June 2024
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fruiting body.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1887, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near fruiting body
Cite this Entry
“Fruiting body.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fruiting%20body. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
Kids Definition
fruiting body
noun
: a plant organ specialized for producing spores
Medical Definition
fruiting body
noun
fruit·ing body
ˈfrüt-iŋ-
: a plant organ specialized for producing spores
especially
: sporophore
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