English Explanatory Dictionary

parasitism

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Interaction between two organisms, in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.
  2. A similar interaction between people or things.

Pronunciation

/ˈpæɹəs(a)ɪˌtɪzm̩/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-parasitism.wav

Word forms

parasitism parasitisms

Etymology

From parasite + -ism. Cognate with French parasitisme and Portuguese and Spanish parasitismo.

Derived words

adelphoparasitism alloparasitism autoparasitism brood parasitism ectoparasitism endoparasitism epiparasitism holoparasitism hyperparasitism kleptoparasitism monoparasitism multiparasitism mycoparasitism nonparasitism polyparasitism pseudoparasitism self-parasitism superparasitism xenoparasitism
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