smut

smut
/smut/, n., v., smutted, smutting.
n.
1. a particle of soot; sooty matter.
2. a black or dirty mark; smudge.
3. indecent language or publications; obscenity.
4. Plant Pathol.
a. a disease of plants, esp. cereal grasses, characterized by the conversion of affected parts into black, powdery masses of spores, caused by fungi of the order Ustilaginales.
b. a fungus causing this disease.
v.t.
5. to soil or smudge.
v.i.
6. to become affected with smut, as a plant.
[1580-90; akin to earlier smit (OE smitte), by assoc. with SMUDGE, SMUTCH]

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Disease of cereals, corn, grasses, onion, and sorghum, caused by many species of fungi (see fungus).

Spores accumulate in sootlike masses (sori) that form within blisters in seeds, leaves, stems, flower parts, and bulbs. The sori usually break up into a black powder that is readily dispersed by wind. Many smut fungi enter embryos or seedling plants, develop throughout the plant, and appear externally only as the plants near maturity. Other smuts are localized, infecting actively growing tissues. Control includes growing resistant varieties in noninfested soil, treating seeds with fungicide, using disease-free transplants, and destroying infected plants or plant parts before the spores are released.

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      disease of cereals, corn (maize), grasses, onion, and sorghum, caused by many species of fungi. It is characterized by resting bodies (spores) that accumulate in sootlike masses called sori, formed within blisters in seeds, leaves, stems, flower parts, and bulbs. The sori usually break up into a black powder that is readily dispersed by the wind. Many smut fungi enter embryos or seedling plants, develop systemically, and appear externally only near maturity. Other smuts are localized, infecting actively growing tissues. Control includes growing resistant varieties in noninfested soil, treating seeds with a fungicide, using disease-free transplants, and destroying infected plants or plant parts before the spores are released. See also bunt; corn smut.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Smut — Smut, n. [Akin to Sw. smuts, Dan. smuds, MHG. smuz, G. schmutz, D. smet a spot or stain, smoddig, smodsig, smodderig, dirty, smodderen to smut; and probably to E. smite. See {Smite}, v. t., and cf. {Smitt}, {Smutch}.] 1. Foul matter, like soot or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • smut´ti|ly — smut|ty «SMUHT ee», adjective, ti|er, ti|est. 1. indecent; nasty; obscene: »“Let us not be smutty,” appeals Lady Fidget, in the line Dame Edith Evans made famous (London Times). SYNONYM( …   Useful english dictionary

  • smut|ty — «SMUHT ee», adjective, ti|er, ti|est. 1. indecent; nasty; obscene: »“Let us not be smutty,” appeals Lady Fidget, in the line Dame Edith Evans made famous (London Times). SYNONYM( …   Useful english dictionary

  • Smut — Smut, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Smutted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Smutting}.] 1. To stain or mark with smut; to blacken with coal, soot, or other dirty substance. [1913 Webster] 2. To taint with mildew, as grain. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 3. To blacken; to sully …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Smut — Smut, v. i. 1. To gather smut; to be converted into smut; to become smutted. Mortimer. [1913 Webster] 2. To give off smut; to crock. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Smut — may refer to: * Smut (fungus), a group of plant parasitic fungi * Smut (comics), an adult British comic title dating back to the 1980s * A colloquial term for obscenity * A colloquial term for pornography * Smut (song), satirical song on… …   Wikipedia

  • smut — smut; smut·ter; smut·ti·ly; smut·ti·ness; smut·ty; …   English syllables

  • smut — [smut] n. [< or akin to LowG smutt, akin to Ger schmutz, dirt < IE * (s)meud < base * meu , wet, musty > MUD, MOSS] 1. a) sooty matter b) a particle of this 2. a mark made by something dirty; soiled spot …   English World dictionary

  • smut — sb., tet, smut, tene; slå et smut forbi; slå smut …   Dansk ordbog

  • smut — [smʌt] n [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: Perhaps from smot dirty mark (16 19 centuries)] 1.) [U] books, stories, talk etc that offend some people because they are about sex ▪ I won t have smut like that in my house! 2.) [U and C] dirt or ↑soot (=black… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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