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Webster 1913 Edition


Agaric

Ag′a-ric

(?; 277)
,
Noun.
[L.
agaricum
, Gr. [GREEK], said to be fr.
Agara
, a town in Sarmatia.]
1.
(Bot.)
A fungus of the genus
Agaricus
, of many species, of which the common mushroom is an example.
2.
An old name for several species of
Polyporus
, corky fungi growing on decaying wood.
☞ The “female agaric” (
Polyporus officinalis
) was renowned as a cathartic; the “male agaric” (
Polyporus igniarius
) is used for preparing touchwood, called punk or German tinder.
Agaric mineral
,
a light, chalky deposit of carbonate of lime, sometimes called
rock milk
, formed in caverns or fissures of limestone.

Webster 1828 Edition


Agaric

AG'ARIC

,
Noun.
[Gr.]
In botany, mushroom, a genus of funguses, containing numerous species. Mushrooms grow on trees, or spring from the earth; of the latter species some are valued as articles of food; others are poisonous. The name was originally given to a fungus growing on the larch. This species is now frequent in the shops, and distinguished by the name of female agaric. From this fungus is extracted a turpentine, of which three fourths of its weight is a resinous substance; the rest, a slimy, mucilaginous, earthy matter, tenacious and almost insoluble in water. It is used in dyeing, but is little esteemed in medicine.
The Agaric of the oak is called touch-wood, from its readiness to take fire.
Agaric mineral, a calcarious earth, or carbonate of lime, resembling a fungus in color and texture; found in fissures of rocks, and on the roofs of caverns. It is sometimes used as an astringent in fluxes, and a styptic in hemorrhages. It occurs in a loose semi-indurated form, white or whitish red, or yellow, light and friable. Kirwan mentions three varieties.

Definition 2024


agaric

agaric

English

Alternative forms

Noun

agaric (plural agarics)

  1. Any of various fungi, principally of the order Agaricales, having fruiting bodies consisting of umbrella-like caps, on stalks, with numerous gills beneath.
  2. A dried fruiting body of a fungus formerly used in medicine, (now Fomitopsis officinalis, formerly Fomes officinalis, Polyporus officinalis)

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams


French

Noun

agaric m (plural agarics)

  1. agaric

Synonyms

  • psalliote