parasite
pronunciation
How to pronounce parasite in British English:
UK [ˈpærəsaɪt]
How to pronounce parasite in American English:
US [ˈpærəsaɪt]
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- Noun:
- an animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); the parasite obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host
- a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
Word Origin
- parasite (n.)
- 1530s, "a hanger-on, a toady, person who lives on others," from Middle French parasite (16c.) or directly from Latin parasitus "toady, sponger," and directly from Greek parasitos "one who lives at another's expense, person who eats at the table of another," from noun use of an adjective meaning "feeding beside," from para- "beside" (see para- (1)) + sitos "food," of unknown origin. Scientific meaning "animal or plant that lives on others" is first recorded 1640s (implied in parasitical).
Example
- 1. Still , being a parasite does get frustrating .
- 2. And that kept the worms one evolutionary step ahead of the parasite .
- 3. One boss calls him a " parasite " who must be eliminated .
- 4. Killing the host is terminal for the parasite as well as the person .
- 5. Finally , the parasite returns to a mosquito when the insect bites an infected person .