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Noun: parasitism  'per-u-si,ti-zum [N. Amer], 'pa-ru-si,ti-zum [Brit]
  1. The relation between two different kinds of organisms in which one receives benefits from the other by causing damage to it
    "Tapeworms exhibit parasitism in their relationship with host organisms"

Derived forms: parasitisms

Type of: interdependence, interdependency, mutuality

Encyclopedia: Parasitism