mycelium

/maɪˈsi.li.əm/

MAꞮSI · li · əm (3 syllables)

English Noun

Definition

The vegetative part of any fungus, consisting of a mass of branching, threadlike hyphae, often underground.

Etymology

From New Latin mycelium; synchronically, myc- + -el- + -ium, where the infix -el- is of unknown origin, perhaps introduced from a rebracketing of epithelium.