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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Mushroom \Mush"room\, a.
1. Of or pertaining to mushrooms; as, mushroom catchup.
[1913 Webster]

2. Resembling mushrooms in rapidity of growth and shortness
of duration; short-lived; ephemerial; as, mushroom cities.
[1913 Webster]

{Mushroom anchor}, an anchor shaped like a mushroom, capable
of grasping the ground in whatever way it falls.

{Mushroom coral} (Zool.), any coral of the genus {Fungia}.
See {Fungia}.

{Mushroom spawn} (Bot.), the mycelium, or primary filamentous
growth, of the mushroom; also, cakes of earth and manure
containing this growth, which are used for propagation of
the mushroom.

{mushroom cloud}, a cloud of smoke rising and then spreading
laterally to take on the shape of a mushroom -- caused by
large fires or explosions, esp. nuclear explosions.
[1913 Webster PJC]


Mushroom \Mush"room\, n. [OE. muscheron, OF. mouscheron, F.
mousseron; perhaps fr. mousse moss, of German origin. See
{Moss}.]
1. (Bot.)
(a) An edible fungus ({Agaricus campestris}), having a
white stalk which bears a convex or oven flattish
expanded portion called the pileus. This is whitish
and silky or somewhat scaly above, and bears on the
under side radiating gills which are at first
flesh-colored, but gradually become brown. The plant
grows in rich pastures and is proverbial for rapidity
of growth and shortness of duration. It has a pleasant
smell, and is largely used as food. It is also
cultivated from spawn.
(b) Any large fungus developing a visible fruiting body
with a stem and cap, usu. of the basidiomycetes;
especially one of the genus {Agaricus}; a toadstool.
Several species are edible; but many are very
poisonous. The term mushroom is used most often for
edible varieties, the poisonous ones being termed
{toadstools} or other names. But this distinction is
often ignored.
[1913 Webster PJC]

2. One who rises suddenly from a low condition in life; an
upstart. --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]


mushroom \mush"room\, v. i.
1. to grow or expand rapidly.
[PJC]

2. to grow so much and so rapidly as to change qualitatively;
used with into; as, a minor border skirmish mushroomed
into a full-blown war.
[PJC]