parasite

Meaning

1. An organism that lives on or in another organism of a different species, deriving benefit from living on or in that other organism, while not contributing towards that other organism sufficiently to cover the cost to that other organism.
2. (informal) An organism that lives on or in another organism of a different species, deriving benefit from living on or in that other organism, while not contributing towards that other organism sufficiently to cover the cost to that other organism.
3. A person who lives on other people's efforts or expense and gives little or nothing back.
4. A sycophant or hanger-on.
5. A climbing plant which is supported by a wall, trellis etc.
6. A retainer or companion of an ancient Celtic warrior, who praised him in song or poetry at gatherings; a bard.
7. A component of a composite aircraft which is carried aloft and air-launched by a larger carrier aircraft or mother ship to support the primary mission of the carrier; a parasite aircraft.
8. An isolated (FSDU) (freestanding display unit )

sponger

hanger-on

parasitic plant

sponge-cake

frequent visitor

lazy person

parasite plant

parasitical plant

parasitic worm

reflecting curtain

useless outh

beam reflector

hangeron

Frequency

Hyphenated as

par‧a‧site

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpæɹəˌsaɪt/

From Middle French parasite, from Latin parasitus, from Ancient Greek παράσιτος (parásitos, “person who eats at the table of another”), from noun use of adjective meaning "feeding beside", from παρά (pará, “beside”) + σῖτος (sîtos, “food”).

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