basidia
|ba-si-di-a|
/bəˈsɪdiə/
(basidium)
small base that produces spores
Etymology
'basidium' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'basidium', where the element 'basid-' comes from Greek 'basis' meaning 'base' and the diminutive suffix '-idion' meant 'small'.
'basidium' changed from Greek 'basidion' and then appeared in New Latin as 'basidium'; English adopted the scientific term 'basidium' and its plural 'basidia'.
Initially, it meant 'little base', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a microscopic spore-producing structure in certain fungi'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'basidium': microscopic spore-producing structures on the hymenial surfaces (gills, pores, etc.) of fungi in the phylum Basidiomycota.
Under the microscope, the basidia were observed releasing spores.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/21 11:46