parasite
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Latin parasitus < Greek παράσιτος (parasitos), “‘person who eats at the table of another’”) < noun use of adjective meaning "feeding beside," < παρα- (para-), “‘beside’”) + σίτος (sitos), “‘food’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈpærəˌsaɪt/
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
parasite (plural parasites)
- (biology) A (generally undesirable) living organism that exists by stealing the resources produced/collected by another living organism.
- Lice, fleas, ticks and mites are widely spread parasites.
- (pejorative) A person who relies on other people's efforts and gives little back (originally a sycophant).
[edit] Antonyms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
(generally undesirable) living organism that exists by stealing resources from another living organism
useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- “parasite” in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001
