Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
downy mildew

downy mildew

7.0
A plant disease that makes fuzzy, pale patches on leaves and stems
  • noun
  • /ˈdaʊni ˈmɪldu/
  • Specialized
translation icon : mildiú lanoso
  • Photo (black & white): A control grape leaf (right) infected with downy mildew (Plasmopora viticola) is shown next to a leaf treated with compost tea.
  • powdery and downy mildew

Examples

  • The presence of downy mildew on the leaves can significantly reduce the quality of grape harvests.

  • During the summer, downy mildew thrives in moist conditions, affecting crops like potatoes and melons.

  • To combat downy mildew, farmers must monitor their fields and implement proper plant care strategies.

Synonyms

mildew
vsdowny mildew
17 2.9

A thin white fungus that grows on damp plants, cloth, or walls

is a plant disease caused by specific fungi forming fluffy patches on leaves

Surface Forms

downy mildew singular
downy mildews plural

Morphology

downy + mildew

The meaning is directly compositional: 'downy' describes a soft, hair-like appearance and 'mildew' names a fungal growth, so the phrase denotes a mildew with a downy appearance (i.e., the plant disease caused by such growth). This adjective+noun pattern is transparent and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Downy mildew is named for how it looks: downy means soft and fluffy like small feathers, and mildew is a kind of mold that grows on leaves. Picture the underside of a leaf covered in pale, feather-like fuzz; this 'fuzzy mold' image explains why the name now means a disease that makes fuzzy, moldy patches on plants.