Noun: parasite 'per-u,sIt [N. Amer], 'pa-ru,sIt [Brit]
- 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
"The tapeworm is a common intestinal parasite in some animals"
- A follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
"His so-called friend was nothing but a parasite, always borrowing money and never paying it back";
- leech, sponge [informal], sponger, bloodsucker [informal]
- A person or organization that extracts resources or money without providing any useful contribution
"Wall Street speculators are a parasite on the real economy"
Derived forms: parasites
Type of: acolyte, being, follower, organism
Antonym: host
Encyclopedia: Parasite