parasitic — living in or on another organism and obtaining nutrients from it
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: living in or on another organism and obtaining nutrients from it
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌpærəˈsɪtɪk/
Example Sentences
- My roommate has become quite parasitic - he never buys groceries but always eats mine!
- The parasitic plant wrapped around the oak tree, slowly draining its nutrients.
- She realized her friend's parasitic lifestyle was draining her energy and wallet.
parasitic
ADJECTIVE[/ˌpærəˈsɪtɪk/]
living in or on another organism and obtaining nutrients from it
living in or on another organism and obtaining nutrients from it
Though parasitic beauty seems artistic, the outcome is brutally realistic
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Ancient Greek, combining 'para' (beside) and 'sitos' (food), literally meaning 'eating beside' or 'eating at another's table.' It originally described someone who ate at another's expense, later extending to organisms that live off a host.
Breakdown
para- (beside) + sitos (food) + -ic (adjective suffix), where the Greek root 'parasitos' originally denoted a person who obtained meals from others, and the adjectival suffix -ic transforms it to describe parasitic relationships or organisms.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My roommate has become quite parasitic - he never buys groceries but always eats mine!”
“The parasitic plant wrapped around the oak tree, slowly draining its nutrients.”
“She realized her friend's parasitic lifestyle was draining her energy and wallet.”
“The documentary showed how parasitic fish attach themselves to sharks like underwater hitchhikers.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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