Lexic.us

Definition of Parasite

1. Noun. An animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); it obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host.

2. Noun. A follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage.

Definition of Parasite

1. n. One who frequents the tables of the rich, or who lives at another's expense, and earns his welcome by flattery; a hanger-on; a toady; a sycophant.

Definition of Parasite

1. Noun. (biology) A (generally undesirable) living organism that exists by stealing the resources produced/collected by another living organism. ¹

2. Noun. (pejorative) A person who relies on other people's efforts and gives little back (originally a sycophant). ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Parasite

1. an organism that lives and feeds on or in another organism [n -S]

Medical Definition of Parasite

1. An organism which obtains food and shelter from another organism (for example Giardia). (27 Sep 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Parasite

parashah parashahs parashioth parashot parashoth parasibirskite parasigmatism parasinoidal parasinoidal sinuses parasita

parasitaemia parasitaemias parasital parasite (current term) parasite-host ecosystem parasite yew parasitemia parasitemias parasites parasitic

parasitic cyst parasitic disease parasitic diseases parasitic eosinophilic lung disease parasitic granuloma parasitic haemoptysis parasitic infection

Literary usage of Parasite

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Appletons' Annual Cyclopædia and Register of Important Events of the Year (1902)
"A, the quartan parasite ; B, the tertian parasite: C, ... Very soon after the parasite has reached The detailed study of these life histories made it ..."

2. Biennial Report by California Dept. of Agriculture, California State Commission of Horticulture (1907)
"Special attention has been paid to this parasite during the past two years; it has been introduced into a great many sections of the State, and gratifying ..."

3. A Text-book of General Bacteriology by Edwin Oakes Jordan (1918)
"Morphology of the Different Varieties of the Malarial parasite. ... The tune required for the asexual development of the tertian parasite is forty-eight ..."

4. The Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and by Hugh Chisholm (1910)
"The body of the parasite exceeds the blood-corpuscle in length, ... The parasite is not more than three-quarters the length of the corpuscle. ..."

5. Manual of bacteriology by Robert Muir (1906)
"The parasite was first observed by Laveran in 1880, and his discovery received ... It was specially in order to discover, if possible, the parasite in the ..."

6. Practical Bacteriology, Blood Work and Animal Parasitology: Including by Edward Rhodes Stitt (1913)
"The parasite is about 40 X 20/1, and is oval in shape with a double outlined ... The life history of the malarial parasite is one of the most interesting ..."

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