Skip to main content
lichenologist

lichenologist

1 9.9
A scientist who studies small plant-like growths made by fungi and algae living together
  • noun
  • /ˌlaɪkəˈnɑlədʒɪst/
  • Specialized
: licenólogo
  • Since that time, I have gotten hooked on the world of lichen and turned into an enthusiastic amateur lichenologist.

Examples

  • The lichenologist checked the tree and recorded the first known occurrence of the species in Virginia.

  • Since that time, I have gotten hooked on the world of lichen and turned into an enthusiastic amateur lichenologist.

  • Morse recalls giving a driving tour to a visiting lichenologist who specialized in a species known to grow on pine trees in just a few states.

Surface Forms

lichenologist singular

Morphology

lichenologist = lichenology (transparent) = lichen + ology + ist

The meaning is directly compositional: a lichenologist is a specialist in lichenology, formed by adding the agentive suffix '-ist'.

Etymology

Lichenologist comes from lichen ('small living things that are a partnership of fungus and algae') and -ologist ('one who studies'), like in biologist. So a lichenologist is literally 'one who studies' lichens.