“Lichen” or “Liken”—Which to use?

“Lichen” or “Liken”

Overview

lichen / liken are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

lichen: (noun) any of several eruptive skin diseases characterized by hard thick lesions grouped together and resembling lichens growing on rocks. (noun) any thallophytic plant of the division Lichenes; occur as crusty patches or bushy growths on tree trunks or rocks or bare ground etc..

liken: NA

Pronunciation

lichen: l·AY·k·ah·n

liken: l·AY·k·ah·n

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Examples in Context

Examples of “lichen”

…known colloquially as blue-gray rosette lichen and powder-back lichen.
If a crustose lichen starts to disintegrate, it will…
…a living substrate such as lichen.
Vermilacinia corrugata is a fruticose lichen that grows on trees and…
…known colloquially as blue-gray rosette lichen and powder-back lichen, is a…
…larvae feed on mosses or lichen growing on trees, but they…
…of relatively bare rock with lichen.
A leprose lichen is a lichen with a…
Leprose lichen
…of the Lithosiini tribe of lichen moths are placed as incertae…

Examples of “liken”

liken Scribble's incorporation of Vurt technology…

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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