parasitic

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌpɛɹ.əˈsɪt.ɪk/ UK /ˌpæɹ.əˈsɪt.ɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #32967

Meanings

1

adj
Relating to or caused by parasites, which live on or in another organism.

The doctor treated her for a parasitic infection picked up abroad.
2

adj
Living off another organism for food and survival.

The parasitic worm draws nutrients straight from its host.
3

adj
Taking advantage of someone else for personal gain without giving anything back.

Critics called the scheme a parasitic business that drained value from honest players.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to or caused by... parasitical

2 adj · living off another organism... bloodsucking

Word family

Derived forms alloparasiticantiparasiticautoparasiticbiparasiticbrood-parasiticchemicoparasiticcircumparasiticectoparasiticendoparasiticentomoparasiticepiparasiticextraparasitic

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

parasitic worm
a worm that lives in another animal and obtains nourishment from its host

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From parasite + -ic.

Topics

Describing Qualities Biology & Genetics Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# parasitic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌpɛɹ.əˈsɪt.ɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌpæɹ.əˈsɪt.ɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 32967

## Meanings
1. Relating to or caused by parasites, which live on or in another organism.
2. Living off another organism for food and survival.
3. Taking advantage of someone else for personal gain without giving anything back.

## Examples
- The doctor treated her for a parasitic infection picked up abroad.
- The parasitic worm draws nutrients straight from its host.
- Critics called the scheme a parasitic business that drained value from honest players.

## Derived Forms
- alloparasitic
- antiparasitic
- autoparasitic
- biparasitic
- brood-parasitic
- chemicoparasitic
- circumparasitic
- ectoparasitic
- endoparasitic
- entomoparasitic
- epiparasitic
- extraparasitic

## Etymology
From parasite + -ic.

## AI Etymology
Parasitic is from parasite + -ic. In present-day use, it can mean relating to or caused by parasites, which live on or in another organism, or living off another organism for food and survival. Derived formations include alloparasitic, antiparasitic, autoparasitic, biparasitic, and brood-parasitic.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Biology & Genetics
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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