parasite — meaning in English
French → English · translate English → French instead
English meaning
- parasite noun An organism that lives on or in another species and benefits at that host's expense.
Senses
parasite is used for these senses in English:
- parasite (biology) 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.
- parasite (pejorative) A person who lives on other people's efforts or expense and gives little or nothing back. [from 16th c.]
- scrounger One who scrounges.
parasite — full definition
- noun An organism that lives on or in another species and benefits at that host's expense.
- noun A person who lives off others' effort or generosity without giving anything back.