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parasitemore about parasite

parasite


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Parasite  \Par"a*site\,  n.  [F.,  fr  L.  parasitus  Gr  ?,  lit., 
  eating  beside,  or  at  the  table  of  another;  ?  beside  +  ?  to 
  feed,  from  ?  wheat,  grain,  food.] 
  1.  One  who  frequents  the  tables  of  the  rich,  or  who  lives  at 
  another's  expense,  and  earns  his  welcome  by  flattery;  a 
  hanger-on;  a  toady;  a  sycophant. 
 
  Thou,  with  trembling  fear,  Or  like  a  fawning 
  parasite,  obey'st.  --Milton. 
 
  Parasites  were  called  such  smell-feasts  as  would 
  seek  to  be  free  guests  at  rich  men's  tables. 
  --Udall. 
 
  2.  (Bot.) 
  a  A  plant  obtaining  nourishment  immediately  from  other 
  plants  to  which  it  attaches  itself  and  whose  juices 
  it  absorbs;  --  sometimes  but  erroneously,  called 
  epiphyte. 
  b  A  plant  living  on  or  within  an  animal,  and  supported 
  at  its  expense,  as  many  species  of  fungi  of  the  genus 
  {Torrubia}. 
 
  3.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  An  animal  which  lives  during  the  whole  or  part  of  its 
  existence  on  or  in  the  body  of  some  other  animal, 
  feeding  upon  its  food,  blood,  or  tissues,  as  lice, 
  tapeworms,  etc 
  b  An  animal  which  steals  the  food  of  another,  as  the 
  parasitic  jager. 
  c  An  animal  which  habitually  uses  the  nest  of  another, 
  as  the  cowbird  and  the  European  cuckoo. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  parasite 
  n  1:  an  animal  or  plant  that  lives  in  or  on  another  and  from 
  which  it  obtains  nourishment  [ant:  {host}] 
  2:  a  follower  who  hangs  around  in  hope  of  gain  or  advantage 
  [syn:  {leech},  {minion},  {sponge}] 




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