parasite Hear it!

parasite definition

para·site (parə sīt′)

noun

  1. a person, as in ancient Greece, who flattered and amused the host in return for free meals
  2. a person who lives at the expense of another or others without making any useful contribution or return; hanger-on
  3. Biol. a plant or animal that lives on or in an organism of another species from which it derives sustenance or protection without benefit to, and usually with harmful effects on, the host

Etymology: L parasitus < Gr parasitos, one who eats at the table of another, parasite, toady < para-, beside (see para-) + sitos, food, grain

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.