parasite
Pronunciation: /ˈpæɹəˌsaɪt/
The English word “parasite” has 9 meanings listed here.
noun
- An organism that lives on or in another organism of a different species, deriving benefit from living on or in that other organism, while not contributing towards that other organism sufficiently to cover the cost to that other organism.
- An internal parasite that is an animal or protist.
- A person who lives on other people's efforts or expense and gives little or nothing back.
- A sycophant or hanger-on.
- A climbing plant which is supported by a wall, trellis etc.
- A retainer or companion of an ancient Celtic warrior, who praised him in song or poetry at gatherings; a bard.
- A component of a composite aircraft which is carried aloft and air-launched by a larger carrier aircraft or mother ship to support the primary mission of the carrier; a parasite aircraft.
- An isolated (FSDU) (freestanding display unit )
verb
- To parasitize.
Etymology
From Middle French parasite, from Latin parasitus, from Ancient Greek παράσιτος (parásitos, “person who eats at the table of another”), from noun use of adjective meaning "feeding beside", from παρά (pará, “beside”) + σῖτος (sîtos, “food”).
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More English words
- parasital
- parasitaphelenchid
- parasitary
- parasitation
- parasite aircraft
- parasitelike
- parasitemia
- parasitemic
About this dictionary
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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.