PARASITIC
Dictionary entry overview: What does parasitic mean?
• PARASITIC (adjective)
The adjective PARASITIC has 3 senses:
1. relating to or caused by parasites
2. of or pertaining to epenthesis
3. of plants or persons; having the nature or habits of a parasite or leech; living off another
Familiarity information: PARASITIC used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• PARASITIC (adjective)
Meaning:
Relating to or caused by parasites
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Synonyms:
parasitic; parasitical
Context example:
parasitic infection
Pertainym:
parasite (an animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); it obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host)
Meaning:
Of or pertaining to epenthesis
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Synonyms:
epenthetic; parasitic
Pertainym:
epenthesis (the insertion of a vowel or consonant into a word to make its pronunciation easier)
Meaning:
Of plants or persons; having the nature or habits of a parasite or leech; living off another
Synonyms:
leechlike; bloodsucking; parasitical; parasitic
Context examples:
a wealthy class parasitic upon the labor of the masses / parasitic vines that strangle the trees / bloodsucking blackmailer / his indolent leechlike existence
Similar:
dependent (not independent)
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