Mildew

  • 1mildew — [mil′do͞o΄, mil′dyo͞o΄] n. [ME mildewe < OE meledeaw, nectar, lit., honeydew, akin to Goth milith, honey < IE base * melit (> L mel, Gr meli, honey) + base of OE deaw,DEW] 1. a thin, furry, usually whitish coating or discoloration,… …

    English World dictionary

  • 2Mildew — Mil dew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mildewed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Mildewing}.] To taint with mildew; as, mildewed clothing. [1913 Webster] He . . . mildews the white wheat. Shak. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3Mildew — Mil dew, v. i. To become tainted with mildew. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4Mildew — Mil dew, n. [AS. melede[ a]w; akin to OHG. militou, G. mehlthau, mehltau; prob. orig. meaning, honeydew; cf. Goth. milip honey. See {Mellifluous}, and {Dew}.] (Bot.) A growth of minute powdery or webby fungi, whitish or of different colors, found …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5mildew — (n.) mid 13c., mildeu honeydew, nectar, from O.E. meledeaw honeydew (sticky stuff exuded by aphids), from P.Gmc. compound of *melith honey (see MELISSA (Cf. Melissa)) + *dawwaz dew (see DEW (Cf. dew)). Cf. O.S. milidou, Du …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6mildew — ► NOUN ▪ a coating of minute fungi on plants or damp organic material such as paper or leather. ► VERB ▪ affect with mildew. ORIGIN Old English …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7Mildew — (engl., spr. milldju), Meltau des Weinstocks, s. Peronospora …

    Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • 8Mildew — Example of downy mildew (left) along with powdery mildew on a grape leaf …

    Wikipedia

  • 9mildew — mildewy, adj. /mil dooh , dyooh /, n. 1. Plant Pathol. a disease of plants, characterized by a cottony, usually whitish coating on the surface of affected parts, caused by any of various fungi. 2. any of these fungi. Cf. downy mildew, powdery… …

    Universalium

  • 10mildew — mil•dew [[t]ˈmɪlˌdu, ˌdyu[/t]] n. 1) ppa a disease of plants, characterized by a cottony, usu. whitish coating on the affected parts, caused by any of various fungi 2) fng any of these fungi, esp. downy mildew or powdery mildew 3) fng any similar …

    From formal English to slang