penicillium
noun
pen·i·cil·li·um
ˌpe-nə-ˈsi-lē-əm 
plural penicillia
ˌpe-nə-ˈsi-lē-ə
: any of a genus (Penicillium) of fungi (such as a blue mold) that are found chiefly on moist nonliving organic matter (such as decaying fruit) and have been grouped with the imperfect fungi but are now often placed with the ascomycetes
Examples of penicillium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This gives the penicillium enough air to extend its gorgeous greenish veins throughout the cheese.
—
Joshua Levine, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2021
Although underappreciated at first, Fleming’s discovery proved monumental in the field of immunology—and primed the scientist to recognize the potential of the penicillium mold that dropped into his lab dish in 1928.
—Claudia Kalb, Scientific American, 27 Apr. 2021
Blue cheese, which has been ripened with cultures of the mold penicillium, includes varieties such as Stilton and Gorgonzola.
—Jenna Birch, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2019
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Joshua Levine, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2021
Although underappreciated at first, Fleming’s discovery proved monumental in the field of immunology—and primed the scientist to recognize the potential of the penicillium mold that dropped into his lab dish in 1928.
—Claudia Kalb, Scientific American, 27 Apr. 2021
Blue cheese, which has been ripened with cultures of the mold penicillium, includes varieties such as Stilton and Gorgonzola.
—Jenna Birch, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near penicillium
Cite this Entry
“Penicillium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penicillium. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
penicillium
noun
pen·i·cil·li·um
ˌpen-ə-ˈsil-ē-əm
plural penicillia
-ē-ə
: any of a genus of fungi of which most are blue molds found chiefly on moist nonliving organic matter (as decaying fruit)
Medical Definition
penicillium
noun
pen·i·cil·li·um
ˌpen-ə-ˈsil-ē-əm
1
capitalized
: a genus of fungi (as the blue molds) that have been grouped with the imperfect fungi but are now often placed with the ascomycetes and that are found chiefly on moist nonliving organic matter (as decaying fruit), are characterized by the erect branching conidiophores ending in tufts of club-shaped cells from which conidia are formed in chains, and include molds useful in economic fermentation and the production of antibiotics
2
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