blue mold: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “blue mold” mean?
A type of fungus, often Penicillium species, that appears as a bluish-green powdery growth on organic matter, especially food.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of fungus, often Penicillium species, that appears as a bluish-green powdery growth on organic matter, especially food.
Can refer specifically to plant diseases caused by such fungi, notably in tobacco (Peronospora tabacina) and bulb crops (Penicillium species).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'mould' vs. 'mold'. Term is equally rare in non-specialist contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Negative (spoilage, decay) in food contexts; specific and clinical in agricultural contexts.
Frequency
Almost exclusively used in scientific, agricultural, or food safety discussions. 'Blue cheese mould' is a more common everyday collocation.
Grammar
How to Use “blue mold” in a Sentence
blue mold + VERB (infects, causes, develops)NOUN (plant, fruit) + with + blue moldblue mold + of + NOUN (tobacco, onions)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blue mold” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The blue-mould infection spread quickly.
American English
- The blue-mold infection spread quickly.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In agriculture: 'The blue mold outbreak devastated the tobacco crop, leading to significant financial losses.'
Academic
In mycology: 'The study examined the sporulation rate of blue mold under varying humidity conditions.'
Everyday
In kitchen contexts: 'I had to throw out the bread because it had blue mold on it.'
Technical
In plant pathology: 'Application of fungicide is recommended for managing blue mold in stored bulbs.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blue mold”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blue mold”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blue mold”
- Using 'blue mold' to describe all moulds, regardless of colour.
- Misspelling 'mould'/'mold'.
- Confusing with 'black mold' (Stachybotrys).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends. Some blue molds (Penicillium) produce antibiotics or are used in cheesemaking and are safe. Others on food can produce harmful mycotoxins, so it's generally advised to discard mouldy food.
'Mould' is the British English spelling; 'mold' is the American English spelling. They refer to the same fungal growth.
Yes. The antibiotic penicillin was derived from a blue mold (Penicillium chrysogenum), and specific blue molds are cultivated to make blue cheeses like Roquefort and Stilton.
Not necessarily. While both are fungi, the species differ. Blue-green discoloration on walls is more likely to be a mix of moulds, some of which can be harmful, and requires professional remediation.
A type of fungus, often Penicillium species, that appears as a bluish-green powdery growth on organic matter, especially food.
Blue mold is usually technical / scientific in register.
Blue mold: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbluː ˈməʊld/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbluː ˈmoʊld/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'BLUE' cheese: a common, safe-to-eat example of blue mold.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECAY IS AN INVADER (e.g., 'The blue mold attacked the crop.')
Practice
Quiz
In which industry is 'blue mold' a specific technical term for a major plant disease?