noun
parasite
PA-ruh-syt
noun
1
An organism that lives on or in another species and benefits at that host's expense.
"Tapeworms are parasites that live in the intestines of their hosts."
"The vet checked the dog for fleas and other parasites."
2
A person who lives off others' effort or generosity without giving anything back.
"He accused his freeloading roommate of being a parasite."
How to Use Parasite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA creature — or, informally, a person — that survives by feeding off another without giving anything useful in return.
Common pairings
intestinal parasite
social parasite
host and parasite
Word Forms
parasited past tense, parasites plural, parasites singular
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Tapeworms are _____ that live in the intestines of their hosts.
Etymology
From Greek parasitos, originally "a person who eats at another's table" (para- "beside" + sitos "food") — a flattering guest who dined for free before the word took on its harsher biological and social meanings.