Definition

Noun: A type of fungus belonging to the genus Blastomyces. These fungi exist in a yeast-like form and reproduce by budding. They are pathogenic, meaning they can cause diseases (known as blastomycosis) in humans and other animals.

Usage

The word "blastomycete" is a scientific and medical term. It is used specifically to refer to these disease-causing fungi in contexts like mycology (the study of fungi), infectious disease medicine, veterinary science, and microbiology.

Examples

• The laboratory culture confirmed the presence of a blastomycete.
• Pulmonary infection is a common manifestation when a blastomycete is inhaled.
• The veterinarian identified the skin lesion as being caused by a blastomycete.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in its plural form, blastomycetes, when referring to multiple fungi or species within the genus.
• In clinical descriptions, it is frequently part of the compound term "blastomycete fungus" for clarity.

Variants and Related Words

• Blastomyces: The genus name to which blastomycetes belong.
• Blastomycosis: The disease caused by infection with a blastomycete.
• Dimorphic fungus: A broader category describing fungi, including blastomycetes, that can exist in two different forms (e.g., mold and yeast) depending on environmental conditions.

Synonyms

• Pathogenic dimorphic fungus (descriptive synonym)
• Blastomyces species (technical synonym)

Note: There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs associated with this highly specialized scientific term.

Noun

1. any of various yeastlike budding fungi of the genus Blastomyces; cause disease in humans and other animals