Lichen

Quick meaning: Lichen is a noun meaning (figurative) Something which gradually spreads across something else, causing damage.

Meaning

(figurative) Something which gradually spreads across something else, causing damage.

More Meanings

1. (transitive) To cover with lichen.
2. Any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of algae and fungi, often found as white or yellow-to-blue–green patches on rocks, old walls, etc.

Example Sentences

[…] making the rocks assume the mould of age and lichening the trees with damp beauty.

The nibble marks of the stone adze were still visible, though crusted over with scale lichens in most places.

The Beaches of Lukannon–the winter wheat so tall, / The dripping, crinkled lichens, and the sea-fog drenching all!

It was the same rich green that one sees on forest moss or on the lichen in caves: plants which like these grow in a perpetual twilight.

Word Forms

• lichens
• lichening
• lichened

Synonyms for lichen

Depending on context, synonyms include cancer.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include crustose, foliose, fruticose, moss, species, paw.

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