Mildew

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈmɪl.djuː/
• US IPA: /ˈmɪl.d(j)u/

Origin

Old English meledēaw ("honeydew") (cf. West Frisian moaldau, Dutch meeldauw, German Mehltau), from Proto-Germanic *mili ("honey") + *dawwō ("dew"). More at dew.

Full definition of mildew

Noun

1. A growth of minute powdery or webby fungi, whitish or of different colors, found on various diseased or decaying substances.

Verb

1. (transitive) To taint with mildew.
• 1605, , William Shakespeare, act 3 scene 4He ... mildews the white wheat.
2. (intransitive) To become tainted with mildew.
• 1851, Herman Melville, ,His bald purplish head now looked for all the world like a mildewed skull.