fruiting body

noun

plural fruiting bodies

: a structure (as of a moss or liverwort) specialized for producing spores

especially : the spore-producing organ of a fungus or slime mold : sporophore

Examples of fruiting body in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But these animals are not interested in eating the vividly colored native fungal fruiting bodies—they’d rather eat smelly, non-native truffles. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025

These varieties produce drab-looking but tasty fruiting bodies called truffles, which mammals like dogs or boars will find by smell—then dig up and eat. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025

The more mature fruiting body has been associated with additional anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits. —Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appétit, 8 Jan. 2025

The light measurements showed that the recognizable fruiting body of M. crocata that stands apart from the stipe base, is non-luminous. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fruiting body

• afterbody
• antibody
• busybody
• everybody
• autoantibody
• bawdy
• gaudy
• khadi
• mahdi
• noddy
• oddi
• shoddy

Kids Definition

fruiting body

noun

: a plant organ specialized for producing spores

Medical Definition

fruiting body

noun

fruit·​ing body ˈfrüt-iŋ- 

: a plant organ specialized for producing spores

especially : sporophore