PARASITIC


Meaning of PARASITIC in English

/ ˌpærəˈsɪtɪk; NAmE / (also less frequent para·sit·ical / ˌpærəˈsɪtɪkl; NAmE /) adjective

1.

caused by a parasite :

a parasitic disease / infection

2.

living on another animal or plant and getting its food from it :

a parasitic mite

3.

( disapproving ) ( of a person ) always relying on or benefiting from other people and giving nothing back

►  para·sit·ic·al·ly / -kli; NAmE / adverb

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WORD ORIGIN

early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek parasitikos , from parasitos (person) eating at another's table.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.