I. ˈmilˌd(y)ü noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English meledēaw, mildēaw; akin to Old High German militou honeydew; both from a prehistoric West Germanic compound whose original first constituent, probably represented by Gothic milith honey, was influenced by the word represented by Old English melu meal, and whose second constituent is represented by Old English dēaw dew — more at mellifluous , meal , dew
1. obsolete : honeydew 1
2.
a. : a superficial usually whitish growth produced on various forms of organic matter and on living plants by fungi (as of the families Erysiphaceae and Peronosporaceae)
b. : a fungus producing such growth — compare downy mildew , mold , powdery mildew V
3. : a discoloration (as on cloth, leather, paper) caused by parasitic fungi
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to affect with or as if with mildew
prejudices that mildew attempts at social interpretation — Harlow Shapley
intransitive verb
: to become affected with mildew
prevent books from mildewing