inky cap
- noun
- /ˈɪŋki kæp/
- The inky cap mushroom releases its spores and then slowly dissolves into a black liquid.
Examples
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We found several inky caps growing in the damp grass after the rain.
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The inky cap appears delicate, but soon its cap will melt into a black liquid.
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Because the inky cap liquefies quickly, it must be harvested and eaten soon after picking.
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The inky cap mushroom is fascinating to observe.
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Have you ever seen an inky cap in the wild?
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During the autumn, you can often find inky caps growing in clusters on damp soil.
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After a rain, the inky cap appears, its cap turning into an inky liquid as it matures.
Synonyms
A mushroom whose cap turns into black ink when it gets old
A mushroom with a cap that turns into a black, inky liquid as it ages
A group of mushrooms whose caps break down into a black liquid as they get old
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is a direct, descriptive combination: 'inky' (very dark or black) modifies 'cap' (the top of a mushroom), so a B1 learner who knows both words will infer it denotes a mushroom with a black/dark cap. While the full mycological detail about the cap dissolving into an inky liquid is specialist knowledge, the basic referent and descriptive sense are transparently derived from the constituents.
Etymology
Inky cap: The name inky cap comes from the mushroom's cap, which turns inky and dissolves into a black, 'ink'-like liquid after it drops its spores, so the name describes how the mushroom looks.