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parasite definition

para·site (par′ə 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.

Alternate definitions:

medical parasite definition - medical

parasite Synonyms

parasite

n.

  1. A plant or animal living on another

    bacteria, parasitoid, saprophyte, epiphyte; see fungus.

  2. A hanger-on

    dependent, slave, sponge, freeloader, hanger-on, sponger; see also sycophant.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

parasite Usage Examples

Converse of subject

  • infect: From the moment Michael Rooker's town bully becomes infected by the parasite, it's a messy thrill-ride of increasingly grotesque adventures.

Converse of object

  • single-cel: In order to cause the disease, the single-celled parasite must multiply in the human bloodstream.

Adjective modifier

  • protozoan: Protozoan parasites in the UK - cause for concern?

Modifies a noun

  • plasmodium: They describe the life cycle of the mosquito parasite Plasmodium.

Noun used with modifier

  • malaria: Malaria parasite antigens exposed on the surface of the infected red blood cell membrane.
parasite usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

parasite quotes

I am proud that I am an Australian, a daughter of the Southern Cross, a child of the mighty bush. I am thankful I am a peasant, a part of the bone and muscle of my nation, and earn my bread by the sweat of my brow, as man was meant to do. I rejoice I was not born a parasite, one of the blood-suckers who loll on velvet and satin, crushed from the proceeds of human sweat and blood and souls.

-of Bin Bin

parasite quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"parasite." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/parasite>

APA Style

parasite. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/parasite

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