/ ˈpærəsaɪt; NAmE / noun
1.
a small animal or plant that lives on or inside another animal or plant and gets its food from it
2.
( disapproving ) a person who always relies on or benefits from other people and gives nothing back
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek parasitos (person) eating at another's table, from para- alongside + sitos food.