First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1mildew
noun mil·dew \ˈmil-ˌdü, -ˌdyü\
: a usually white substance that grows on the surface of things in wet, warm conditions
Full Definition of MILDEW
1
a : a superficial usually whitish growth produced especially on organic matter or living plants by fungi (as of the families Erysiphaceae and Peronosporaceae) b : a fungus producing mildew
2
: a discoloration caused by fungi
— mil·dewy \-ē\ adjective
See mildew defined for English-language learners
See mildew defined for kids
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Origin of MILDEW
Middle English, from Old English meledēaw honeydew; akin to Old High German militou honeydew
Rhymes with MILDEW
accrue, achoo, adieu, ado, Agnew, aircrew, airscrew, anew, askew, babu, Baku, bamboo, battu, battue, bayou, bedew, beshrew, bestrew, bijou, boo-boo, boubou, brand-new, breakthrough, burgoo, cachou, can-do, canoe, caoutchouc, Carew, Cebu, Chonju, construe, Corfu, corkscrew, coypu, CQ, cuckoo, curfew, debut, Depew, doo-doo, ecu, endue, ensue, eschew, floor-through, fondue, fordo, Gansu, Gentoo, Gifu, goo-goo, GQ, ground crew, gumshoe, guru, hairdo, hereto, Hindu, home brew, Honshu, horseshoe, how-to, HQ, Hutu, igloo, imbrue, imbue, IQ, jackscrew, K2, Kansu, karoo, Karoo, kazoo, Khufu, kung fu, Kwangju, leadscrew, lean-to, long view, make-do, Matthew, me-too, milieu, miscue, misdo, muumuu, non-U, old-shoe, one-two, on view, outdo, perdu, Peru, poilu, prau, preview, pursue, purview, ragout, redo, renew, Renfrew, review, revue, rough-hew, run-through, sandshoe, Sardou, see-through, set-to, setscrew, shampoo, sinew, skiddoo, snafu, snowshoe, soft-shoe, span-new, subdue, surtout, taboo, Taegu, tattoo, thank-you, thereto, thumbscrew, to-do, too-too, tree shrew, undo, undue, unglue, unscrew, untrue, vatu, vendue, venue, virtu, voodoo, wahoo, walk-through, wherethrough, whereto, who's who, worldview, yahoo, yoo-hoo
2mildew
verb
Definition of MILDEW
transitive verb
: to affect with or as if with mildew
intransitive verb
: to become affected with mildew
First Known Use of MILDEW
1606
MILDEW[1] Defined for Kids
1mildew
noun mil·dew \ˈmil-ˌdü, -ˌdyü\
Definition of MILDEW for Kids
1
: a thin whitish growth produced by a fungus especially on decaying material or on living plants
2
: a fungus producing mildew
2mildew
verb
mil·dewedmil·dew·ing
Definition of MILDEW for Kids
: to become affected with mildew
Medical Dictionary
mildew
noun mil·dew \ˈmil-ˌd(y)ü\
Medical Definition of MILDEW
1
: a superficial usually whitish growth produced especially on organic matter or living plants by fungi (as of the families Erysiphaceae and Peronosporaceae)
2
: a fungus producing mildew
Learn More About MILDEW
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