Definition

1. Noun:
   • A highly poisonous mushroom: "death angel" refers to an extremely toxic, typically white fungus characterized by a distinctive cup-shaped base. It is distinguished from similar edible mushrooms primarily by its white gills.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Foragers must learn to identify the death angel, as it is responsible for many fatal poisonings.
  • The death angel mushroom grows in wooded areas and can be mistaken for edible varieties.

Advanced Usage

• "the death angel": Used as a specific common name for mushrooms of the section , particularly and in North America.
  • The guide warned us that the death angel contains amatoxins, which cause liver failure.

Variants and Related Words

• Death cap (n): Another common name for a closely related, highly poisonous Amanita mushroom (Amanita phalloides).

  • Both the death cap and the death angel are deadly if ingested.

• Destroying angel (n): A synonym often used interchangeably with "death angel" for white, lethal Amanita species.

  • The destroying angel is a fitting name for this deceptively beautiful fungus.

Synonyms

• Destroying angel: A synonymous common name.
• Deadly amanita: A more technical descriptive term.

Related Phrases

• "Fooled by the death angel": A phrase describing the dangerous mistake of confusing this toxic mushroom with an edible one.
  • Several experienced pickers have been fooled by the death angel's innocent appearance.

Notes

• The term "death angel" is a compound noun. Its meaning is specific and not derived from the separate meanings of "death" and "angel." It functions as a fixed name for this organism.

Noun

1. extremely poisonous usually white fungus with a prominent cup-shaped base; differs from edible Agaricus only in its white gills