Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Basidiomycetes \Ba*sid`i*o*my*ce"tes\, n. pl. [NL., fr. NL. & E.
   basidium + Gr. ?, ?, fungus.] (Bot.)
   A large subdivision of fungi co["o]rdinate with the
   {Ascomycetes}, characterized by having the spores borne on a
   basidium. It embraces those fungi best known to the public,
   such as mushrooms, toadstools, etc.

Fungi \Fun"gi\, n. pl. (Bot.)
   A group of thallophytic plants of low organization, destitute
   of chlorophyll, in which reproduction is mainly accomplished
   by means of asexual spores, which are produced in a great
   variety of ways, though sexual reproduction is known to occur
   in certain {Phycomycetes}, or so-called algal fungi.

   Note: The Fungi appear to have originated by degeneration
         from various alg[ae], losing their chlorophyll on
         assuming a parasitic or saprophytic life. By some they
         are divided into the subclasses {Phycomycetes}, the
         lower or algal fungi; the {Mesomycetes}, or
         intermediate fungi; and the {Mycomycetes}, or the
         higher fungi; by others into the {Phycomycetes}; the
         {Ascomycetes}, or sac-spore fungi; and the
         {Basidiomycetes}, or basidial-spore fungi.

Source : WordNet®

Basidiomycetes
     n : large class of higher fungi coextensive with subdivision
         Basidiomycota [syn: {class Basidiomycetes}]