parasite
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.
Other meanings
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.
Kinds of parasite
- parasitic plant
Related words
- ecoparasite
- alloparasite
- coproparasite
- enteroparasite
- entomoparasite
- exoparasite
- haemoparasite
- holoparasite
- multiparasite
- neuroparasite
- parasitary
- parasitation
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “parasite” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.