cottony rot

noun

variants or less commonly cottony mold

: a fungal disease of various plants caused by a fungus (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) that produces wilt and rot of the stem and often of other parts

Word History

Etymology

so called from the fluffy white masses appearing on the rotted tissue

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!