puffball

• Nom désignant un type de champignon à corps fructifère rond qui, à maturité, libère un nuage de spores, ou un champignon apparenté au corps fructifère souterrain à peau dure.

A noun referring to a type of fungus with a round fruiting body that releases a cloud of spores when mature, or a related fungus with a hard-skinned subterranean fruiting body.

1. Fungus with round fruiting bodyC1formalscientific

   Any of various fungi of the family Lycoperdaceae whose round fruiting body discharges a cloud of spores when mature.

   Vesse-de-loup

   • The puffball released a cloud of spores when I stepped on it.
   • We found a large puffball growing in the meadow.
   • Puffballs are often edible when they are young and white inside.

   Synonymeslycoperdon

2. Hard-skinned subterranean fungusC1formalscientific

   Any of various fungi of the genus Scleroderma having hard-skinned subterranean fruiting bodies resembling truffles.

   Scléroderme

   • The Scleroderma puffball has a tough outer skin.
   • Unlike true truffles, this puffball is not considered a delicacy.
   • The subterranean puffball was difficult to locate in the forest.

   Synonymesearthball