Definition of lichen Lichen

/lajˈkʌn/ - [laykun] - li•chen

We found 8 definitions of lichen from 6 different sources.

What does lichen mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: lichens
lichen - any thallophytic plant of the division Lichenes; occur as crusty patches or bushy growths on tree trunks or rocks or bare ground etc.
		fungus an organism of the kingdom Fungi lacking chlorophyll and feeding on organic matter; ranging from unicellular or multicellular organisms to spore-bearing syncytia
		division lichenes, lichenes comprising the lichens which grow symbiotically with algae; sometimes treated as an independent group more or less coordinate with algae and fungi
		ascolichen a lichen in which the fungus component is an ascomycete
		basidiolichen a lichen in which the fungus component is a basidiomycete
		lecanora any lichen of the genus Lecanora; some used in dyeing; some used for food
		roccella, roccella tinctoria a source of the dye archil and of litmus
		beard lichen, beard moss, usnea barbata greenish grey pendulous lichen growing on trees
		horsehair lichen, horsetail lichen any of several lichens of the genus Alectoria having a thallus consisting of filaments resembling hair
		arctic moss, cladonia rangiferina, reindeer lichen, reindeer moss an erect greyish branching lichen of Arctic and even some north temperate regions constituting the chief food for reindeer and caribou and sometimes being eaten by humans
		crotal, crottal, crottle any of several lichens of the genus Parmelia from which reddish brown or purple dyes are made
lichen - any of several eruptive skin diseases characterized by hard thick lesions grouped together and resembling lichens growing on rocks
		disease of the skin, skin disease, skin disorder a disease affecting the skin

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Wiktionary

lichen (Noun)
Any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of fungi and algae; often found as white or yellow patches on old walls, etc.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

lichen (n.)
One of a class of cellular, flowerless plants, (technically called Lichenes), having no distinction of leaf and stem, usually of scaly, expanded, frond-like forms, but sometimes erect or pendulous and variously branched. They derive their nourishment from the air, and generate by means of spores. The species are very widely distributed, and form irregular spots or patches, usually of a greenish or yellowish color, upon rocks, trees, and various bodies, to which they adhere with great tenacity. They are often improperly called rock moss or tree moss.
lichen (n.)
A name given to several varieties of skin disease, esp. to one characterized by the eruption of small, conical or flat, reddish pimples, which, if unchecked, tend to spread and produce great and even fatal exhaustion.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

lichen
Composite organisms formed by the symbiosis between species of fungi and an algae.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

lichen
lī′ken, lich′en, n. one of an order of cellular flowerless plants: an eruption on the skin.—adjs. Lī′chened, covered with lichens; Lichen′ic, pertaining to lichens; Lī′cheniform.—ns. Lī′chenine, a starch-like substance, found in Iceland moss and other lichens; Lī′chenist, Lichenog′rapher, one versed in Lichenog′raphy, the description of lichens.—adjs. Lichenograph′ic, -al.—n. Lichenol′ogy, the department of botany relating to lichens.—adj. Lī′chenous, abounding in, or pertaining to, lichens. [L.,—Gr. leichēn—leichein, to lick.]