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Fungus vs. Mold — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 10, 2023
Fungus is a kingdom of spore-producing organisms, while mold is a type of fungus that grows in multicellular filaments.
Fungus vs. Mold — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Fungus and Mold

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Key Differences

Fungus is a broader term that encompasses a wide range of spore-producing organisms, including mushrooms, yeast, and mold. Mold, on the other hand, is a specific type of fungus that grows in the form of multicellular filaments, known as hyphae.
In scientific taxonomy, fungi have their own kingdom, separate from plants, animals, and several other life forms. Mold is essentially a subgroup within the fungus kingdom, specialized in breaking down decaying matter and growing on surfaces.
In everyday language, the term "fungus" is often used to describe a variety of fungal infections or growths on the body, objects, or food. Mold, however, is most commonly associated with the spoilage of food and the growth of spores in damp or humid areas.

Comparison Chart

Taxonomy

A kingdom
A type within the Fungus kingdom

Growth Form

Various forms, including single-celled and multicellular
Grows in multicellular filaments
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Common Uses

Bread yeast, medicine, etc.
Cheese, penicillin, etc.

Associations

Infections, food, ecosystems
Food spoilage, indoor growth

Compare with Definitions

Fungus

Fungus is a spore-producing organism that is part of its own kingdom.
Mushrooms are a type of fungus.

Mold

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in multicellular filaments.
Mold covered the forgotten loaf of bread.

Fungus

Fungus can be a single-celled organism.
Yeast, used in baking, is a single-celled fungus.

Mold

Mold thrives in damp conditions.
The basement had a problem with mold due to the humidity.

Fungus

Fungus can grow on organic matter.
The fallen log was covered in fungus.

Mold

Mold is commonly found on decaying food.
I found mold on the old cheese in the fridge.

Fungus

Fungus thrives in moist environments.
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that loves sweaty shoes.

Mold

Mold can produce allergens and irritants.
Mold in the house can worsen asthma symptoms.

Fungus

A fungus (plural: fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from the other eukaryotic kingdoms, those being Plantae, Animalia, Protozoa, and Chromista.

Mold

Mold reproduces by releasing spores.
The mold released spores into the air, making it important to clean thoroughly.

Fungus

Any of numerous spore-producing eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Fungi, which lack chlorophyll and vascular tissue and range in form from a single cell to a mass of branched filamentous hyphae that often produce specialized fruiting bodies. The kingdom includes the yeasts, smuts, rusts, mushrooms, and many molds, excluding the slime molds and the water molds.

Mold

A mold (US) or mould (UK, NZ, AU, ZA, IN, CA, IE) is a fungus that grows in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. In contrast, fungi that can adopt a single-celled growth habit are called yeasts.

Fungus

(mycology) Any member of the kingdom Fungi; a eukaryotic organism typically having chitin cell walls but no chlorophyll or plastids. Fungi may be unicellular or multicellular.

Mold

A town in north-eastern Wales, administrative centre of Flintshire; population 10,500 (est. 2009).

Fungus

A spongy, abnormal excrescence, such as excessive granulation tissue formed in a wound.

Mold

A hollow form or matrix for shaping a fluid or plastic substance.

Fungus

Any one of the Fungi, a large and very complex group of thallophytes of low organization, - the molds, mildews, rusts, smuts, mushrooms, toadstools, puff balls, and the allies of each. See fungi.

Mold

A frame or model around or on which something is formed or shaped.

Fungus

A spongy, morbid growth or granulation in animal bodies, as the proud flesh of wounds.

Mold

Something that is made in or shaped on a mold.

Fungus

A parasitic plant lacking chlorophyll and leaves and true stems and roots and reproducing by spores

Mold

The shape or pattern of a mold.

Mold

General shape or form
The oval mold of her face.

Mold

Distinctive character or type
A leader in the mold of her predecessors.

Mold

A fixed or restrictive pattern or form
A method of scientific investigation that broke the mold and led to a new discovery.

Mold

(Architecture) See molding.

Mold

Any of various filamentous fungi that grow on and contribute to the decay of organic matter.

Mold

A growth of such fungi.

Mold

Any of various other saprophytic or parasitic organisms that resemble fungi, such as slime molds or water molds.

Mold

Loose friable soil, rich in humus and fit for planting.

Mold

The earth; the ground.

Mold

The earth of the grave.

Mold

(Archaic) Earth as the substance of the human body.

Mold

To form (something) out of a fluid or plastic material
Molded a cup out of clay.

Mold

To form into a particular shape; give shape to
Molded the clay into a ball.

Mold

To guide or determine the growth or development of; influence
A teacher who helps to mold the minds of his students.

Mold

To fit closely by following the contours of (the body). Used of clothing.

Mold

To assume a certain shape
Shoes that gradually molded to my feet.

Mold

To become moldy.

Mold

A hollow form or matrix for shaping a fluid or plastic substance.

Mold

A frame or model around or on which something is formed or shaped.

Mold

Something that is made in or shaped on a mold.

Mold

The shape or pattern of a mold.

Mold

General shape or form.
The oval mold of her face

Mold

Distinctive character or type.
A leader in the mold of her predecessors

Mold

A fixed or restrictive pattern or form.
His method of scientific investigation broke the mold and led to a new discovery.

Mold

(architecture) A group of moldings.
The arch mold of a porch or doorway;
The pier mold of a Gothic pier, meaning the whole profile, section, or combination of parts

Mold

(anatomy) A fontanelle.

Mold

A natural substance in the form of a woolly or furry growth of tiny fungi that appears when organic material lies for a long time exposed to (usually warm and moist) air.

Mold

A fungus that creates such colored, furry growths.

Mold

Loose friable soil, rich in humus and fit for planting.

Mold

Earth, ground.

Mold

The top or crown of the head.

Mold

(transitive) To shape in or on a mold; to form into a particular shape; to give shape to.

Mold

(transitive) To guide or determine the growth or development of; influence

Mold

(transitive) To fit closely by following the contours of.

Mold

(transitive) To make a mold of or from (molten metal, for example) before casting.

Mold

(transitive) To ornament with moldings.

Mold

(intransitive) To be shaped in or as if in a mold.
These shoes gradually molded to my feet.

Mold

(transitive) To cause to become moldy; to cause mold to grow upon.

Mold

(intransitive) To become moldy; to be covered or filled, in whole or in part, with a mold.

Mold

To cover with mold or soil.

Mold

A spot; a blemish; a mole.

Mold

Crumbling, soft, friable earth; esp., earth containing the remains or constituents of organic matter, and suited to the growth of plants; soil.

Mold

Earthy material; the matter of which anything is formed; composing substance; material.
The etherial mold,Incapable of stain.
Nature formed me of her softest mold.

Mold

A growth of minute fungi of various kinds, esp. those of the great groups Hyphomycetes, and Physomycetes, forming on damp or decaying organic matter.

Mold

The matrix, or cavity, in which anything is shaped, and from which it takes its form; also, the body or mass containing the cavity; as, a sand mold; a jelly mold.

Mold

That on which, or in accordance with which, anything is modeled or formed; anything which serves to regulate the size, form, etc., as the pattern or templet used by a shipbuilder, carpenter, or mason.
The glass of fashion and the mold of form.

Mold

Cast; form; shape; character.
Crowned with an architrave of antique mold.

Mold

A group of moldings; as, the arch mold of a porch or doorway; the pier mold of a Gothic pier, meaning the whole profile, section, or combination of parts.

Mold

A fontanel.

Mold

A frame with a wire cloth bottom, on which the pump is drained to form a sheet, in making paper by hand.

Mold

To cover with mold or soil.

Mold

To cause to become moldy; to cause mold to grow upon.

Mold

To become moldy; to be covered or filled, in whole or in part, with a mold.

Mold

To form into a particular shape; to shape; to model; to fashion.
He forgeth and moldeth metals.
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clayTo mold me man?

Mold

To ornament by molding or carving the material of; as, a molded window jamb.

Mold

To knead; as, to mold dough or bread.

Mold

To form a mold of, as in sand, in which a casting may be made.

Mold

The distinctive form in which a thing is made;
Pottery of this cast was found throughout the region

Mold

Container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens

Mold

Loose soil rich in organic matter

Mold

The process of becoming mildewed

Mold

A fungus that produces a superficial growth on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter

Mold

Sculpture produced by molding

Mold

Form in clay, wax, etc;
Model a head with clay

Mold

Become moldy; spoil due to humidity;
The furniture molded in the old house

Mold

Form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold;
Cast a bronze sculpture

Mold

Make something, usually for a specific function;
She molded the riceballs carefully
Form cylinders from the dough
Shape a figure
Work the metal into a sword

Mold

Fit tightly, follow the contours of;
The dress molds her beautiful figure

Mold

Shape or influence; give direction to;
Experience often determines ability
Mold public opinion

Common Curiosities

How do fungus and mold differ?

Fungus is a broader term, while mold is a specific type of fungus.

Is all mold a fungus?

Yes, all mold is a type of fungus.

What is fungus?

Fungus is a kingdom of spore-producing organisms.

Can you eat fungus?

Some fungi like mushrooms are edible, while many are not.

What is mold?

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in multicellular filaments.

Where can mold be commonly found?

Mold is commonly found in damp or humid areas.

Can mold cause health problems?

Certain molds can produce allergens and irritants that may cause health issues.

Is mold always harmful?

Some molds are useful in food and medicine, but some can be harmful.

Where can fungus grow?

Fungus can grow in a variety of environments, including soil, water, and organic matter.

Is athlete's foot caused by fungus or mold?

Athlete's foot is caused by a specific type of fungus.

What are common uses for fungus?

Fungus is used in medicine, baking, and brewing.

Can both fungus and mold grow indoors?

Yes, both can grow indoors under the right conditions.

Is yeast a fungus or mold?

Yeast is a type of single-celled fungus.

What are common uses for mold?

Mold is used in food like blue cheese and in producing antibiotics like penicillin.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

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