- pronunciation:
- pae
r
saIt
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
A parasite is an animal or plant that lives on or in another living thing and gets its food and energy from it.
Some diseases are caused by parasites.We were told not to drink the water in the pond because there might be parasites living in it. |
Parasite comes from an ancient Greek word for someone who earned free meals at the table of another by flattering the host during dinner.