parasitic — parasitic, parasitical Both forms are in use as adjectives derived from parasite (normally in its figurative meaning): • This parasitic castle life had left my funds comparatively intact Patrick Leigh Fermor, 1986 • I am keen on police checks on… … Modern English usage
parasitic — (adj.) 1620s, from L. parasiticus, from Gk. parasitikos, from parasitos (see PARASITE (Cf. parasite)). Biological sense is from 1731 … Etymology dictionary
parasitic — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of an organism) living as a parasite. 2) resulting from infestation by a parasite. 3) derogatory habitually relying on or exploiting others. DERIVATIVES parasitical adjective parasitically adverb … English terms dictionary
parasitic — [par΄ə sit′ik] adj. [L parasiticus < Gr parasitikos] 1. of or like a parasite; living at the expense of others 2. caused by parasites, as a disease 3. of or designating a subsidiary volcano, crater, etc. that forms on the side of another one:… … English World dictionary
parasitic — [[t]pæ̱rəsɪ̱tɪk[/t]] also parasitical 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n Parasitic diseases are caused by parasites. Will global warming mean the spread of tropical parasitic diseases? 2) ADJ: usu ADJ n Parasitic animals and plants live on or inside larger… … English dictionary
parasitic — par|a|sit|ic [ˌpærəˈsıtık] adj also par|a|sit|i|cal [ ˈsıtıkəl] 1.) living in or on another plant or animal and getting food from them ▪ parasitic fungi 2.) a parasitic person is lazy, does no work, and depends on other people 3.) a parasitic… … Dictionary of contemporary English
parasitic — par|a|sit|ic [ ,perə sıtık ] adjective 1. ) a parasitic plant or animal lives in or on another type of plant or animal and feeds on it 2. ) a parasitic disease is caused by parasites living inside your body 3. ) a parasitic person lives by… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
parasitic — also parasitical adjective 1 living in or on another plant or animal and getting food from them: parasitic fungi 2 a parasitic person is lazy, does no work, and depends on other people 3 a parasitic disease is caused by parasites parasitically /… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
parasitic — UK [ˌpærəˈsɪtɪk] / US [ˌperəˈsɪtɪk] adjective 1) biology a parasitic plant or animal lives in or on another type of plant or animal and feeds on it 2) medical a parasitic disease is caused by parasites living inside your body 3) a parasitic… … English dictionary
parasitic — adjective 1. relating to or caused by parasites parasitic infection • Syn: ↑parasitical • Pertains to noun: ↑parasite (for: ↑parasitical), ↑parasite … Useful english dictionary
