mildew

/ˈmɪl.djuː/

MꞮL · djuː (2 syllables)

English Noun Top 35,403

Definition

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

Etymology

From Middle English myldew, from Old English meledēaw, mildēaw, from Proto-West Germanic *milidauw, from *mili (“honey”) + *dauw (“dew”). Compare West Frisian moaldau, Dutch meeldauw, German Mehltau. More at dew.