pythium

noun

pyth·​i·​um

ˈpithēəm

1

capitalized : a genus of destructive root-parasitic fungi (family Pythiaceae) having filamentous sporangia, smooth-walled spherical oogonia, and stalked antheridia and including forms (as P. debaryanum) that cause damping-off

2

plural -s : any fungus of the genus Pythium

pythium root necrosis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek pythein to cause to rot + New Latin -ium

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!