DictionaryRoot: leichen
Greek
leichen
tree-moss, lichen
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noun
lichen
LYE-kuhn/ˈlaɪkən/
An organism formed by a fungus living together with algae or cyanobacteria.
Etymology
Greek leichen originally meant “what eats around itself,” probably connected with leichein, “to lick.” The name thus presents the organism through an image of eating around itself.