| Mildew | n. [ AS. meledeáw; akin to OHG. militou, G. mehlthau, mehltau; prob. orig. meaning, honeydew; cf. Goth. milip honey. See Mellifluous, and Dew. ] (Bot.) A growth of minute powdery or webby fungi, whitish or of different colors, found on various diseased or decaying substances. [ 1913 Webster ] powdery mildew a fungal disease of plants caused by an ascomycete of the order Erysiphales, characterized by a powdery white film on the surface of the affected plants. It is damaging to, e.g., roses and lilacs. Also, a fungus that causes such a disease. [ PJC ]
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