1
a
: a superficial usually whitish growth produced especially on organic matter or living plants by fungi (as of the families Erysiphaceae and Peronosporaceae)
b
: a fungus producing mildew
2
: a discoloration caused by fungi
mildewed; mildewing; mildews
: to affect with or as if with mildew
: to become affected with mildew
Examples of mildew in a Sentence
Noun
The basement's damp walls were covered with mildew.
Recent Examples on the Web
Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 29 Aug. 2024
Tile and Grout Cleaning This trend is up 39% year over year and may owe its growth to increased awareness of health issues related to mold and mildew.
—Jamie Gold, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2024
Soggy drywall eventually gets replaced, only to grow damp and mildewed again within months.
—Curbed, 9 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mildew 
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Noun
See which Bugs, mold and mildew in Boar's Head plant linked to outbreak, new reports show
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported multiple violations at a Boar's Head plant in Virginia that is linked to the nationwide recall of meats.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 29 Aug. 2024
Tile and Grout Cleaning This trend is up 39% year over year and may owe its growth to increased awareness of health issues related to mold and mildew.
—Jamie Gold, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Wandering through the winding streets and mildewing apartments of the medieval Tuscan city, Leonardo becomes the quintessential teenage romantic, both bursting with youthful promise and corroding from adolescent alienation.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2024
Soggy drywall eventually gets replaced, only to grow damp and mildewed again within months.
—Curbed, 9 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mildew
Dictionary Entries Near mildew
Cite this Entry
“Mildew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mildew. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mildew
1 of 2 noun
mil·dew
ˈmil-ˌd(y)ü 
: a usually whitish growth produced on decaying material or living plants by fungi
also
: a fungus producing mildew
mildew
2 of 2 verb
: to affect with or become affected with mildew
Medical Definition
mildew
noun
mil·dew
ˈmil-ˌd(y)ü
1
: a superficial usually whitish growth produced especially on organic matter or living plants by fungi (as of the families Erysiphaceae and Peronosporaceae)
2
: a fungus producing mildew
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