Mildew

Pronunciation: /ˈmaɪlduː/

Definitions of mildew

noun a thin whitish coating consisting of minute fungal hyphae, growing on plants or damp organic material such as paper or leather

Example Sentences

A1 I found mildew on the walls of the old house.

A2 The bathroom tiles were covered in mildew.

B1 The damp conditions in the basement caused mildew to grow.

B2 Regular cleaning and ventilation can help prevent mildew from forming.

C1 The mildew infestation in the building required professional remediation.

C2 The presence of mildew indicated a serious moisture problem that needed to be addressed.

Examples of mildew in a Sentence

formal The presence of mildew in the basement indicated a moisture issue that needed to be addressed.

informal I can't stand the smell of mildew in old buildings.

slang This old jacket smells like mildew, I need to air it out.

figurative The mildew of negativity had started to creep into her thoughts, but she fought to stay positive.

Grammatical Forms of mildew

• past tense: mildewed
• plural: mildews
• comparative: milder
• superlative: mildest
• present tense: mildews
• future tense: will mildew
• perfect tense: have mildewed
• continuous tense: is mildewing
• singular: mildew
• positive degree: mildew
• infinitive: to mildew
• gerund: mildewing
• participle: mildewed

Origin and Evolution of mildew

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'mildew' is believed to have originated from the Middle English word 'mildeu', which was a combination of 'milde' meaning honey or nectar, and 'ew' meaning juice or moisture.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'mildew' shifted from referring to a sweet liquid to describing a type of fungus that grows on damp surfaces, particularly in humid environments. The negative connotation associated with mildew likely developed as people observed its damaging effects on crops, textiles, and buildings.