mushroom
/ˈmʌʃrʊm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmʌʃrʊm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈməsh-ˌrüm -ˌru̇m; chiefly Northern and Midland US -ˌrün; dialectal ˈmə-shə-ˌrüm, -ˌru̇m, -ˌrün/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmʌʃ.ruːm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmʌʃ.ruːm/ (ame, ipa)
mushroom — noun
- mushroomsingular
- mushroomsplural
1. a living organism with a cap-shaped top on a short stalk that grows above ground
a living organism with a cap-shaped top on a short stalk that grows above ground in soil or on rotting wood; many kinds are safe to cook and eat, but some are poisonous and must be avoided entirely.
Nila picked fresh mushrooms from the farmer's market for her risotto.
Obi added sliced mushrooms to the pan while making pasta sauce.
After the heavy rain, white mushrooms appeared on the lawn behind the garage.
The chef warned us never to eat wild mushrooms unless we were certain they were safe.
Mizuki learned to identify edible mushrooms during a weekend foraging course in the forest.
用法筆記
In everyday English, 'mushroom' usually refers to the common white or brown cultivated types sold in supermarkets. Wild mushrooms are often called by specific names such as 'chanterelle', 'shiitake', or 'porcini'.
常見錯誤
2. a pale brownish-grey shade similar to the surface of many common mushrooms, ofte
a pale brownish-grey shade similar to the surface of many common mushrooms, often chosen for clothes, wall paint, and home furnishings.
Talia chose a mushroom-coloured sweater for her autumn trip to the mountains.
mushroom-coloured — compound adjective used as modifier
The living room walls were painted a soft mushroom that matched the wooden furniture.
Niran bought a mushroom-coloured sofa because it goes well with both grey and beige pillows.
The kitchen tiles were a warm mushroom shade that made the small space feel cosy.
用法筆記
Common in interior design magazines and catalogues. 'Mushroom' as a colour name often appears alongside 'taupe' and 'greige' — similar neutral tones that fall between grey and brown.
mushroom — adjective
- mushroompositive
- more mushroomcomparative
- most mushroomsuperlative
1. having a light grey-brown colour, similar to the surface of common cultivated mu
having a light grey-brown colour, similar to the surface of common cultivated mushrooms; often used to describe clothes, paint, fabric, or furnishings.
Ziad wore a mushroom jacket over his white shirt to the outdoor wedding.
mushroom + noun — attributive use describing clothing colour
The couple picked a mushroom grey paint for the bedroom walls to create a calm atmosphere.
mushroom grey — common compound colour term
Sven decided on mushroom curtains because the neutral tone suited both the carpet and the sofa.
A mushroom scarf added a soft, elegant touch to her otherwise dark outfit.
文法句型
mushroom + noun (colour descriptor)
用法筆記
This adjective is always used attributively (before a noun) — you say 'a mushroom jacket', not 'the jacket is mushroom'. For predicative use, say 'the jacket is mushroom-coloured' (see noun sense 2 for that form).
常見錯誤
mushroom — verb
- mushroompresent simple I / you / we / they
- mushrooms3rd person singular
- mushrooming-ing form
- mushroomedpast simple
1. to increase, grow, or spread with surprising speed, like a mushroom appearing ov
to increase, grow, or spread with surprising speed, like a mushroom appearing overnight — used for businesses, cities, problems, or ideas that become much larger or more numerous in a short time.
New coffee shops mushroomed across the neighbourhood after the train station opened.
mushroomed across [location] — rapid spread in an area
The city's population mushroomed when the tech company moved its headquarters there in 2018.
Small online businesses mushroomed during the pandemic as people looked for new ways to earn money.
Rumours about the school closure mushroomed in the neighbourhood before any official announcement was made.
Yuna's gardening blog mushroomed from a small hobby into a business with over fifty thousand readers.
- explode
stronger, suggesting a sudden burst of growth or activity
- proliferate
more formal, focuses on becoming more numerous
- burgeon
more poetic, suggests healthy or natural growth
文法句型
mushroom (no object)
mushroom into + noun phrase
mushroom across/through/in/around + noun phrase (location)
用法筆記
Commonly used to describe the rapid growth of businesses, urban areas, or information (rumours, news, social media trends). The subject is always the thing that grows — never a person causing the growth. To express the cause, use a different verb: 'The cheap rent caused new shops to mushroom in the area.'
常見錯誤
2. to walk through woods, fields, or other natural areas looking for wild mushrooms
to walk through woods, fields, or other natural areas looking for wild mushrooms and picking the ones that are safe to eat.
Every autumn, Christopher and his father go mushrooming in the woods behind their house.
go mushrooming — common gerund pattern for outdoor activities
The family went mushrooming after breakfast, carrying baskets and a field guide for safety.
went mushrooming — past tense of 'go mushrooming'
Nellie learned to mushroom from her grandmother, who knew every safe spot in the forest.
On rainy weekends, Mathieu often goes mushrooming with friends in the nearby mountains.
- forage
broader term for searching for wild food, not just mushrooms
文法句型
go mushrooming
mushroom in/on [location]
用法筆記
This sense is much less common than the 'grow quickly' sense. It appears mainly in contexts about foraging, outdoor hobbies, or rural traditions. In conversation, English speakers usually say 'pick mushrooms' or 'go mushroom picking' rather than 'go mushrooming', but 'mushroom' as a verb for this activity is recognised.