parasite en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈpæɹəˌsaɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈpɛɹəˌsaɪt/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈpæɹəˌsaɪt/ (General-American)
Etymology
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”).
Meanings
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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.
It is likely that the long evolutionary trajectory of Mycoplasma went from a reductive autotroph to oxidative heterotroph to a cell-wall–defective degenerate parasite. This evolutionary trajectory assumes the simplicity to complexity route of biogenesis, a point of view that is not universally accepted.
2013 March 14, Harold J. Morowitz, “The Smallest Cell”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 2, archived from the original on 04 Jan 2017, page 83:Yiannas said there has been widespread public confusion about cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, also known as cyclospora, that can cause explosive diarrhea.
2026 July 25, Oliver Milman, “Former FDA official says US handling of cyclospora near ‘catastrophic level’”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026:...and the mistletoe crept round many of the oaks—that pleasant parasite, whose associations belong rather to the hearth and lighted hall than to its native branches.
1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIX, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 154:Lice, fleas, ticks, and mites are widely spread parasites.
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(informal, specifically) 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. ▸ An internal parasite that is an animal or protist.
He lacks, however, even the basic Dr. Kildare lingo about medical issues. For instance, he regularly misidentifies poppers as amyl nitrate, instead of amyl nitrite — two forms of heart medicine with different affects ^([sic]). Salmonella, a bacteria, is not usually classified as a parasite. And he mistakenly writes, "lenti means slow" in the lentiviruses. ("Lenti" means lens-shaped, biologists classify by structure, not by behavior.)
1987 December 27, Charley Shively, “AIDS In The Mind Of The Left And The Mainstream”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 24, page 9:Select a disease class Virus: Fastest evolution, Most affected by environment, Bonus to infectivity Bacteria: Medium evolution, Normally affected by environment, Bonus to drug resistance Parasite: Slowest evolution, Least affected by environment, Low visibility
2008 July 14, Dark Realm Studios, Pandemic II, Web:Any germs or parasites on the surface of the meat that you could conceivably wash off are gonna die as soon as you cook it, so don't bother washing it.
2020 November 20, Adam Ragusea, 1:13 from the start, in Why People Wash Meat (or Don't):
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(derogatory) A person who lives on other people's efforts or expense and gives little or nothing back.
A royalist who publicly called for a military intervention to protect the parasite monarchy.
2021 December 1, monamu98, “Thai and Korean netizens oppose debut of H1-Key's Sitala over father's alleged support of dictatorship”, in Sportskeeda, Sportskeeda, archived from the original on 03 Dec 2021, retrieved 03 Dec 2021:Of all the corrupting effects of wealth there is none worse than this, that it makes the wealthy (and their parasites) think in some way divine, or at least a lovely character of the mind, what is in truth nothing but their power of luxurious living.
1902, Hilaire Belloc, The Path to Rome:
- (derogatory) A sycophant or hanger-on.
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(literary, poetic) A climbing plant which is supported by a wall, trellis etc.
Her golden tresses shade / The bosom's stainless pride, / Curling like tendrils of the parasite / Around a marble column.
1813, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Canto I”, in Queen Mab; […], London: […] P. B. Shelley, […], →OCLC, page 3:
- (historical) A retainer or companion of an ancient Celtic warrior, who praised him in song or poetry at gatherings; a bard.
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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.
[…] parasiting and aerial refueling as range-extension measures. Second, parasiting would be exorbitantly expensive, because each parasite bomber would need its own carrier. Two bombers could be serviced by a single tanker, however,[…]
2019 January 24, Michael E. Brown, Flying Blind: The Politics of the U.S. Strategic Bomber Program, Cornell University Press, →ISBN, page 170:
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(attributive) An isolated (FSDU) (freestanding display unit )
parasite display
parasite unit
parasite stand
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| parasites | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
mutualist · commensal · sometimes symbiote
Deriveds
xenoparasite · hemoparasite · parasitocenosis · superparasite · parasitise · coproparasite · entomoparasite · parasitophobia · holoparasite · parasitemia · nosoparasite · parasitism · multiparasite · enteroparasite · wound parasite · parasitization · parasitophorous · parasitology · parasitary · epiparasite · parasite aircraft · parasitelike · parasiticide · haemoparasite · exoparasite · welfare parasite · ectoparasite · parasitosis · kleptoparasite · macroparasite · brood parasite · parasital · mesoparasite · parasitation · parasitical · microparasite · zooparasite · neuroparasite · mycoparasite · parasitize · parasitic · parasitisation · alloparasite · pseudoparasite · antiparasite · phytoparasite · hemiparasite · nonparasite · hyperparasite · endoparasite · semiparasite · parasitome · parasitological · parasitoid · ecoparasite
Relateds
obligate · facultative · symbiont · sito-
Synonyms
scrounge · leech · smell-feast · parasite · sponger · free rider · bludger · bummer · sucker · scrounger · sponge · moocher · scunge · trencher mate · mooch · bloodsucker · gadfly · freeloader
Translations (182)
sw kimelea ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · cmn 寄生蟲 /寄生虫 ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · mi pirinoa ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ota طفیلی ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · uk парази́т ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · hy ձրիակեր (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · cmn 食客 (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · la parasītus ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ja 寄生虫 (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · be паразы́т ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · be паразі́т ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · cy parasit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · da parasit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · pt parasita (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · nl profiteur (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sw mnyonyaji (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · be чужае́д (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · fr profiteur (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · hu parazita (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · es parásito ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · sv parasit (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · mi parakūkā (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sh пара̀зӣт ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ro parazit (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sv parasit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · sh на́метнӣк ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · vi kí sinh trùng ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ro parazit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · km បរាសិត ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · da parasit (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ta ஒட்டுண்ணி ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ms parasit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · hi परजीवी ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · is sníkjudýr (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · pt parasita ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ro parazită (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · my ကပ်ပါး (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ar طُفِيل ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · sh пара̀зӣт (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · la parasīta (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · pl pasożyt ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ru парази́т (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · he פָּרָזִיט ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · it parassita (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sh námetnīk ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · az tüfeyli ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ast parásitu (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · eo parazito ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · is sníkill ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · tl parasito ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · grc παράσιτος (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · be паразі́т (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ga diúgaire (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sh gotòvānka (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ota طفیل ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · th ปรสิต ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · de Parasit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ja 寄生虫 ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · nn parasitt ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · az tüfeyl ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · sk parazit (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · hu parazita ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · bg парази́т (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · az müftəxor (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · be дармае́д (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · et parasiit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · nn parasitt (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ru дармое́д (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sh gotòvān (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · cs příživník (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · de Parasit (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · te పరాన్నజీవి ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ca paràsit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ru парази́т ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · hu élősködő (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sh paràzīt ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · az parazit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ko 기생식물 ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · mk паразит (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · fa-ira طُفَیل (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · it parassita ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ga seadán ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ky паразит ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ga sceartán (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ko 기생충 ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · be паразы́т (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · hi परजीवी (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · fi parasiitti (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · uz parazit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · cs parazit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · hy մակաբույծ ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · hy պորտաբույծ (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ota اویونتو (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sl parazit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ru тунея́дец (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · af parasiet (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · pl parazyt (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · nb parasitt (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · tg ангал ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · de Schmarotzer ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · cy arfilyn ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · tr parazit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · pl darmozjad (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ur طُفَیلی ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · my ကပ်ပါး ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ko 기생물 ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · el παράσιτο (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · cmn 寄生物 ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · sq parazit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · uk дармої́д (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · lt parazitas ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · pl pasożyt (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · cs parazit (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · cmn 寄生蟲 /寄生虫 (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · tk parazit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · fi loinen ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · sh на́метнӣк (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ga siolpaire (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ca paràsit (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · am ጥገኛ ነፍሳት ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ka პარაზიტი ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · kk паразит ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · fr parasite (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · el παράσιτο ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · sk príživník (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sh námetnīk (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ga trumpa (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ur آکاش بیل ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · km បញ្ញើក្អែក ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ta ஒட்டுண்ணி (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · es parásito (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ur اَمَر بیل ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · vi vật ký sinh ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ms bendalu (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sl parazit (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ckb چڵکاوخۆر ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · hu élősködő ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · la parasītus (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · is sníkjudýr ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · fur parasit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · he טַפִּיל ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · nb parasitt ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · az müftə yeyən (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · pms parassit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · pt verme ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · id parasit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · fa-ira اَنْگَل ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · fr parasite ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · he פָּרָזִיט (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ja 寄生物 ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · af parasiet ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · cs cizopasník ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · gl parásito (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · mi kaitahaumu (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · vo parasit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ru нахле́бник (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · tg паразит ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · sh гото̀ва̄нка (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ga súmaire (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ast parásitu ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · nl parasiet ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · nl parasiet (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sh paràzīt (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · bn পরজীবী ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · mk паразит ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ru прижива́ла (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · is afæta (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ar طُفَيْلِيّ (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · tl sasandig ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ru прижива́л (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sk parazit ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ota طفیلی (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · sh гото̀ва̄н (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ota اویونتی (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · tr asalak ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · ckb مشەخۆر (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · ga péist (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back) · io parazito ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · gl parásito ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · lv parazīts ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · bg парази́т ((biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism) · uk парази́т (useless person who always relies on other people's work and gives nothing back)