Mouldy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈmoʊldi/

Definitions

1. Having a texture or appearance that shows the effects of fungal growth, typically indicating that the item is spoiled or degraded in condition
2. Exhibiting signs of decay or rot through the growth of mold, often resulting in a visually unappealing and potentially harmful substance
3. Displaying a surface altered by fungal development that signifies deterioration or spoilage while often posing health risks

Etymology: "Mouldy" is a straightforward formation: the noun "mould" (the furry fungal growth itself) with the adjectival suffix "-y", meaning "characterised by" or "full of". The suffix is an old one in English, descending from Old English "-ig", which gave us words like "stony" and "milky" in the same way. The noun "mould" is the more interesting half of the pair. It is a separate word from "mold", the soil sense, though the two forms have long been confused; the fungal sense is the one that dominates the adjective here. The spelling "mould" is the standard British form, while American English usually writes "mold" for both the fungus and the soil.

Synonyms: damp, musty

Antonyms: fresh, clean