penicillium

noun

pen·​i·​cil·​li·​um ˌpe-nə-ˈsi-lē-əm 

plural penicillia ˌpe-nə-ˈsi-lē-ə 

: any of a genus (Penicillium) of fungi (such as a blue mold) that are found chiefly on moist nonliving organic matter (such as decaying fruit) and have been grouped with the imperfect fungi but are now often placed with the ascomycetes

Examples of penicillium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This gives the penicillium enough air to extend its gorgeous greenish veins throughout the cheese. —Joshua Levine, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2021

Although underappreciated at first, Fleming’s discovery proved monumental in the field of immunology—and primed the scientist to recognize the potential of the penicillium mold that dropped into his lab dish in 1928. —Claudia Kalb, Scientific American, 27 Apr. 2021

Blue cheese, which has been ripened with cultures of the mold penicillium, includes varieties such as Stilton and Gorgonzola. —Jenna Birch, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin penicillus

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

penicillium

noun

pen·​i·​cil·​li·​um ˌpen-ə-ˈsil-ē-əm 

plural penicillia -ē-ə 

: any of a genus of fungi of which most are blue molds found chiefly on moist nonliving organic matter (as decaying fruit)

Medical Definition

penicillium

noun

pen·​i·​cil·​li·​um ˌpen-ə-ˈsil-ē-əm 

1

capitalized : a genus of fungi (as the blue molds) that have been grouped with the imperfect fungi but are now often placed with the ascomycetes and that are found chiefly on moist nonliving organic matter (as decaying fruit), are characterized by the erect branching conidiophores ending in tufts of club-shaped cells from which conidia are formed in chains, and include molds useful in economic fermentation and the production of antibiotics

2

plural penicillia -ē-ə  : any mold of the genus Penicillium