par·a·site
parasite
- pronunciation:
- pae
r
saIt
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
an animal or plant that lives on or in another organism and draws sustenance from it.
|
| definition 2: |
a person who receives benefits or hospitality from others but does not give anything in return.
- synonyms:
- drone, leech
- similar words:
- barnacle, bloodsucker, cadger, hanger-on, mooch, scrounge, sponge
|
| related words: |
appendage, mendicant, mold |
Parasite comes from an ancient Greek word for someone who earned free meals at the table of another by flattering the host during dinner.