ergot

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Related to ergot: ergotamine, Ergot alkaloids, ergot poisoning

er·got

(ûr′gət, -gŏt′)

1. Any of several fungi of the genus Claviceps, especially C. purpurea, that infect various cereal plants and form compact black masses of branching filaments that replace the grains of the host plant. Humans and livestock can be poisoned by ingesting ergot-infected grains.

2. The plant disease caused by such a fungus.

3. The dried sclerotia of ergot, usually obtained from rye seed and used as a source of several medicinally important alkaloids and as the basic source of lysergic acid.

[French, from Old French argot, cock's spur (from its shape), of unknown origin.]

er·got′ic adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ergot

(ˈɜːɡət; -ɡɒt)

1. (Plant Pathology) a disease of cereals and other grasses caused by ascomycete fungi of the genus Claviceps, esp C. purpurea, in which the seeds or grain of the plants are replaced by the spore-containing bodies (sclerotia) of the fungus

2. (Plant Pathology) any fungus causing this disease

3. (Medicine) the dried sclerotia of C. purpurea, used as the source of certain alkaloids used to treat haemorrhage, facilitate uterine contraction in childbirth, etc

[C17: from French: spur (of a cock), of unknown origin]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

er•got

(ˈɜr gət, -gɒt)

n.

a. a disease of rye and other cereal grasses, caused by a fungus of the genus Claviceps, esp. C. purpurea, which replaces the affected grain with a long, hard, blackish sclerotial body.

b. the sclerotial body itself.

2. the dried sclerotium of C. purpurea, developed on rye plants, from which various medicinal alkaloids are derived.

[1675–85; < French: literally, a rooster's spur]

er·got

(ûr′gət)

A fungus that infects rye, wheat, and other grain plants, forming black masses among the seeds. Grain infected with ergot is poisonous and can cause serious illness.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	ergot - a plant disease caused by the ergot fungus plant disease - a disease that affects plants
	2.	ergot - a fungus that infects various cereal plants forming compact black masses of branching filaments that replace many grains of the plant; source of medicinally important alkaloids and of lysergic acid Claviceps purpurea Claviceps, genus Claviceps - fungi parasitic upon the ovaries of various grasses rye ergot - a sclerotium or hardened mass of mycelium fungus - an organism of the kingdom Fungi lacking chlorophyll and feeding on organic matter; ranging from unicellular or multicellular organisms to spore-bearing syncytia

Translations

härkäjyvätorajyvä

ergot

[ˈɜːgət] N → cornezuelo m (del centeno)

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

ergot

n → Mutterkorn nt, → Hungerkorn nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

er·got

n. cornezuelo de centeno, hongo que en forma seca o en extracto se usa como medicamento para detener hemorragias o para inducir contracciones uterinas.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

References in periodicals archive ?

He switched off the casuistical wireless, drew the curtains, took ergot and lay in the candour of the dark.

MORNING SERIAL; The Element of Water

Egypt has restested a French wheat shipment that was rejected earlier for having high levels of the grain fungus ergot, and found to have acceptable levels, on Satuday.

Egypt accepts French wheat shipment after re-testing for ergot fungus

The common strain of the fungus produces toxins called "ergot alkaloid" that cause fescue toxicosis, which kills cattle, costing livestock producers nearly a billion dollars every year.

Fescue Toxicosis and Management, 2nd Edition

Three other agents are not available in the United States: flunarizine (an agent with calcium channel-blocking activity) and two serotonin antagonists, pizotifen and methysergide (a semisynthetic ergot alkaloid).

Antimigraine agents in pregnancy and lactation

He was the youngest contributor to the now legendary oversize Kramer's Ergot #7.

The Whistling Factory

In recent years, a lack of agreement over levels of the common ergot fungus led to some cargoes being rejected and traders boycotting tenders or offering supplies at a premium.

Egypt takes issue with ING decision on lending for wheat cargoes

On May 28, Egypt lifted its ban on Russian imports of wheat that reportedly contained traces of ergot fungus.

Egypt imports 420,000 tons of wheat from Russia, Romania

It is contraindicated in patients receiving pimozide or ergot alkaloids.

US Food and Drug Administration approves Merck's Prevymis

When people eat food contaminated with the fungus ergot, they could start showing symptoms that mimic those of epilepsy or a mental illness, such as "violent muscle spasms, vomiting, delusions, hallucinations, crawling sensations on the skin, and a host of other symptoms - all of which ...