puffball

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The giant puffball is a big mushroom, covered with spectacular polygonal white to buff warts, looks like a soccer ball in size.

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Definitions (7)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun Any of various fungi of the genus Lycoperdon and related genera, having a ball-shaped fruiting body that when pressed or struck releases the enclosed spores in puffs of dust.
  2. noun Informal The rounded head of a dandelion that has gone to seed.

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Examples (50)

  • It seemed to be growing from the ground, like a puffball. —  Demons Don't Dream
  • When Krzysztof Nowak succeeded in stealing a puffball, he streaked along Kindred IV's equator. —  F ;SF - vol 101 issue 03 - September 2001
  • Given that Bernie is no doubt a physical and moral puffball, a quick round of waterboard bingo with an experienced interrogator should get him to crack faster than Aunt Goldie's piggy bank, which he probably raided. —  Kesher Talk
  • Seen from Earth, the wispy form of Cassiopeia A-the remnant of a massive star that exploded about 330 years ago-looks like a colorful puffball (see picture). —  National Geographic News
  • If you are only brave enough to try one species, have a go at the manifestly obvious giant puffball, and you will become a mycophile for life. —  The Guardian World News
 

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/ˈpəfbɔl/
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