Definition of parasite Parasite

/pɛˈɹʌsajˌt/ - [perusayt] - par•a•site

We found 12 definitions of parasite from 5 different sources.

What does parasite mean?

Noun Plural: parasites
parasite - an animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); it obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host
		host an animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite; it does not benefit and is often harmed by the association
		being, organism the state or fact of existing; "a point of view gradually coming into being"; "laws in existence for centuries"
		plant life, flora, plant (botany) a living organism lacking the power of locomotion
		endoparasite, endozoan, entoparasite, entozoan, entozoon any of various parasites that live in the internal organs of animals (especially intestinal worms)
		ectoparasite, ectozoan, ectozoon, epizoan, epizoon any external parasitic organism (as fleas)
parasite - a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
		leech, sponge, sponger
		follower a person who accepts the leadership of another

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parasite (n.)
One who frequents the tables of the rich, or who lives at another's expense, and earns his welcome by flattery; a hanger-on; a toady; a sycophant.
parasite (n.)
A plant obtaining nourishment immediately from other plants to which it attaches itself, and whose juices it absorbs; -- sometimes, but erroneously, called epiphyte.
parasite (n.)
A plant living on or within an animal, and supported at its expense, as many species of fungi of the genus Torrubia.
parasite (n.)
An animal which lives during the whole or part of its existence on or in the body of some other animal, feeding upon its food, blood, or tissues, as lice, tapeworms, etc.
parasite (n.)
An animal which steals the food of another, as the parasitic jager.
parasite (n.)
An animal which habitually uses the nest of another, as the cowbird and the European cuckoo.

parasite
Organism which lives and obtains food at the expense of another organism, the host.
parasite
A person who exploits fellow human beings.

parasite
par′a-sīt, n. one who frequents another's table: a hanger-on: a sycophant: (bot.) a plant growing upon and nourished by the juices of another: (zool.) an animal which lives on another—its host.—adjs. Parasit′ic, -al, like a parasite: fawning: acting as a sycophant: living on other plants or animals.—adv. Parasit′ically.—ns. Parasit′icalness; Parasit′icide, that which destroys parasites; Par′asitism; Parasitol′ogist; Parasitol′ogy. [Fr.,—L. parasītus—Gr. parasitos—para, beside, sitos, corn.]