Lichen

Pronunciation

• enPR: lÄ«'kÉ™n, IPA: /ˈlaɪ.knÌ©/, /ˈlɪtʃ.nÌ©/,

• Rhymes: -aɪkÉ™n, -ɪtʃən
• Homophones: liken

Origin

From Latin līchēn ("ringworm"), from Ancient Greek λειχήν.

Full definition of lichen

Noun

1. Any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of fungi and algae; often found as white or yellow patches on old walls, etc.
• 1894 — Rudyard Kipling, , LukannonThe Beaches of Lukannon–the winter wheat so tall–
  The dripping, crinkled lichens, and the sea-fog drenching all!
• 1895 — H. G. Wells, , ch XIIt was the same rich green that one sees on forest moss or on the lichen in caves: plants which like these grow in a perpetual twilight.
• 1915 — John Muir, , ch VThe nibble marks of the stone adze were still visible, though crusted over with scale lichens in most places.
2. (figurative) Something which spreads across something else, causing damage.
• Grey Riders|15Meanwhile, abiding a day of judgment, she fought ceaselessly to deny the bitter drops in her cup, to tear back the slow, the intangibly slow growth of a hot, corrosive lichen eating into her heart.

Synonyms

• (something which spreads) cancer

Derived terms