Moldy
ˈmɔːldi
Definitions
Covered or affected by mold; spoiled or decayed, usually by the growth of fungi.
ˈmɔːldi
Covered with or caused by mold.
The cheese was moldy and had to be thrown away.
💡 Simply: Something is moldy when it's gone bad, like bread that has fuzzy green or white stuff on it. It's not good to eat!
👶 For kids: Yucky! Something is moldy when it has fuzzy stuff growing on it because it's been wet for too long. Don't eat moldy things!
More Examples
A moldy smell filled the old, unused room.
Don't eat that bread, it's starting to look moldy.
How It's Used
"The moldy bread was thrown away immediately."
"The damp basement had a moldy smell."
Idioms & expressions
to be moldy around the edges
To be old, outdated, or slightly eccentric.
"His jokes were a little moldy around the edges, but still funny."
From Middle English mouldy, molde, from Old English molde, mold ('earth, dust') + -y (suffix forming adjectives).
The word 'moldy' has been used since the Middle Ages, initially referring to anything covered in or produced by mold.
Memory tip
Imagine your bread is covered with a fuzzy green substance – that’s mold.