toadstool
part of speech
noun (a toadstool, toadstools)
meaning for a pupil
1) A toadstool is a fungus with a round cap on a stalk, like a mushroom; the word is often used for kinds that are poisonous or not eaten, like the red one with white spots (fly agaric). tree →
2) Calling someone a toadstool is a rude insult, like calling them a useless person. tree →
sense in the lessons
Science and nature: toadstools are the fruiting parts of fungi, which grow in damp woods, especially in autumn, and help rot down dead leaves and wood. Safety: never pick or eat wild mushrooms or toadstools — some are deadly, and they are hard to tell apart; wash hands after touching. Stories and fairy tales: fairies, gnomes and pixies sit on red-and-white toadstools.
examples
- A red toadstool with white spots grew under the birch tree. tree →
- Never eat a toadstool you find in the woods. tree →
- In the story, a fairy lived under a toadstool. tree →
- Toadstools pop up after autumn rain. tree →
- We drew toadstools on our nature walk but didn't touch them. tree →
- Fungi like toadstools help break down dead leaves. tree →
- When the dwarf saw that he screamed out: ‘Is that civil, you toadstool, to disfigure a man’s face? tree →
note
Countable, one word. There is no scientific difference between a mushroom and a toadstool; «toadstool» usually suggests not safe to eat. Toads do not really sit on them.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «toadstool» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.