PARASITIC Meaning and
Definition
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The term "parasitic" refers to the characteristic or behavior of an organism, most commonly a plant or an animal, that obtains nutrients, shelter, or other resources from another organism, known as the host, often to the detriment of the host. The relationship between a parasite and its host is often one-sided, benefiting the parasite while potentially causing harm to the host.
Parasites can be classified into different categories based on their way of life. Some parasites are external, attaching themselves to the host's body and drawing nutrients from it. These external parasites, such as ticks or fleas, often cause irritation, discomfort, or even diseases in the host. Other parasites are internal, living inside the host's body, typically in organs or tissues. Examples of internal parasites include tapeworms or certain types of bacteria.
The survival of parasitic organisms depends on their ability to adapt to their hosts, often evolving strategies to avoid detection by the host's immune system. Some parasites form complex and sophisticated relationships with their hosts, exhibiting coevolution, where both the parasite and host evolve in response to each other's changes over time.
In a broader context, "parasitic" can also be used metaphorically to describe behaviors or relationships between entities where one benefits at the expense of another, without providing any reciprocal advantages.
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1. Relating to, or of the nature of a parasite. 2. Noting microorganisms which normally grow only in or on the living body.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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Resembling a parasite; fawning; living and drawing nourishment from other plants and animals.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
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Etymology of PARASITIC
The word "parasitic" derives from the Greek word "parasitos", which means "one who eats at another's table". In ancient Greece, a parasite referred to a person who dined at someone else's expense, typically in return for amusing or flattering the host. Over time, the term developed a metaphorical sense to describe organisms that live on, or in, another organism (called the host) and benefit at the expense of the host. The term "parasite" was first used in its modern biological sense in the early 17th century, and "parasitic" followed as an adjective to describe the nature of these organisms.
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