parasite

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   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.

   Lice, fleas, ticks, and mites are widely spread parasites.

2. 2
   noun

   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.

3. 3
   noun

   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.

4. 4
   noun

   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,[…]

5. 5
   noun

   An isolated (FSDU) (freestanding display unit )

   parasite display

6. 6
   verb

   To parasitize.

   ... parasiting upon her husband, taking everything and giving nothing in return, this woman had brought her husband to a condition of serious ill health because of his grief, anxiety, and despair over her failure.

7. 7
   noun

   an animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant)

8. 8
   noun

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

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”).