ear fungus

7.3

A small edible mushroom shaped like a thin ear that grows on dead wood

noun
/ɪr ˈfʌŋɡəs/

: seta oreja

The dried ear fungus must be soaked in water before cooking.

Examples

Many Asian dishes include ear fungus for its unique texture and flavor.
I found some ear fungus growing on the old tree.
Many Asian dishes include ear fungus for its unique texture and appearance.
She found several ear fungi growing on the old log in the forest.
Have you ever tried ear fungi in your dishes?
The dried ear fungus needs to be soaked before it can be cooked.
She discovered ear fungus growing on decaying wood during her hike.

Synonyms

Jew's-ear

vsear fungus

9.9

A brown ear-shaped edible mushroom that grows on dead wood and is used in Asian cooking

is the broader common description stressing regional habitat not the formal species name

Jew's-ears

vsear fungus

Specialized

9.9

An edible mushroom shaped like a small brown ear that grows on dead wood

is the general description focusing on region and habitat rather than name form

Auricularia auricula

vsear fungus

Specialized

9.4

A brown ear-shaped fungus you can eat that grows on dead wood and is used in Asian cooking

is the broader natural description stressing habitat and regional distribution

Surface Forms

ear fungus singular

ear funguses plural

ear fungi plural

Morphology

ear + fungus

Both constituents 'ear' and 'fungus' have clear meanings, so a B1 learner would recognize this as a noun phrase referring to some kind of fungus associated with or resembling an ear. However, the precise botanical sense — an edible fungus shaped like a human ear that grows on wood — is not directly predictable (many learners would instead infer a fungal infection of the ear), so the relation is only partially clear without prior exposure.

Etymology

Ear fungus comes from the mushroom's shape: it looks like a small ear of fungus growing on old wood. That's why the name means a fungus that is 'ear'-shaped, and the clear picture helps you remember it.