Definition

Noun: * A highly poisonous mushroom: "Death cup" is the common name for a specific type of extremely poisonous fungus, typically characterized by a pale or white color and a distinctive cup-shaped structure (volva) at its base. It is scientifically classified within the genus Amanita, most notably Amanita phalloides (the death cap). A key identifying feature that distinguishes it from some edible mushrooms is its white gills.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Foragers must learn to identify the death cup, as ingesting even a small piece can be fatal.
  • The guide pointed out the deadly death cup mushroom growing near the oak trees.
  • Its white gills and cup-shaped base are telltale signs of a death cup.

Advanced Usage

• "death cap": This is a more common variant spelling for the same poisonous mushroom, .
  • The death cap is responsible for the majority of fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide.

Variants and Related Words

• Death cap (n): A variant common name for the same fungus.
• Destroying angel (n): A common name for other all-white, deadly poisonous mushrooms in the genus.
• Amanita (n): The genus of mushrooms to which the death cup belongs, containing both deadly and edible species.

Synonyms

• Poisonous mushroom: A general term for any toxic fungus.
• Toadstool: A common, non-scientific term often used for poisonous or inedible mushrooms.

Notes

• The term "death cup" is primarily used in a mycological (fungus-related) or foraging context as a warning label for a specific biological hazard. It is not typically used in idioms or phrasal verbs.

Noun

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