Mycelium
/maɪˈsiːliəm/noun
The threadlike, vegetative network of a fungus, made up of branching hyphae.
Did you know?Mycelium comes from Greek mykēs, meaning “fungus,” and was coined in modern scientific Latin for the fungal “little fungus” network—long before people realized these threads can behave like an underground communication system.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
mýkēs
“fungus”
Modern Scientific Latin
Latin
mycelium
“the threadlike body of a fungus”
19th Century
English
mycelium
“the vegetative network of a fungus”
Modern English
English
mycelium
“the branching, threadlike mass forming the main body of a fungus”