C2adjectivenaturescience
US/ˌper.əˈsɪt.ɪk/
UK/ˌpær.əˈsɪt.ɪk/
living on or inside another animal or plant and getting food from it; caused by parasites
In context
Some parasitic wasps lay their eggs inside living caterpillars.
Malaria is a parasitic disease that is spread by mosquitoes.
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that takes water from its host tree.
Words that go with parasitic
adjective + noun
- parasitic infectionEating raw fish can lead to a parasitic infection.
- parasitic diseaseClean water helps prevent many parasitic diseases.
- parasitic wormsParasitic worms affect millions of children worldwide.
- parasitic plantThe world's largest flower comes from a parasitic plant.
- parasitic relationshipThe fungus and the ant have a parasitic relationship.