Parasitize - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
To parasitize means to live on or in another organism (the host) and derive nutrients at the host’s expense, often harming it. It is commonly used in biology to describe such relationships.
Definition:
To live on or in a host organism, deriving benefits while harming it.
Synonyms:
exploit, leech, sponge, feed on, prey upon
Part of Speech:
verb
Antonyms:
benefit, nourish, support
Common Collocations:
parasitize a host, parasitize plants, parasitize insects
Derivatives:
parasitism, parasitic, parasitization
Usage Tips:
Use "parasitize" to describe organisms that harm hosts by depending on them for survival.
Common Phrases:
live off others, feed at another's expense, drain resources
Etymology:
Derived from Greek "parasitos" (one who eats at another's table) + "-ize."
Examples:
- 1. The flea can parasitize dogs and cats alike.
- 2. Some fungi parasitize crops and reduce yields significantly.
- 3. Mistletoe plants parasitize trees by stealing their nutrients.
- 4. Ticks often parasitize mammals for blood meals.
- 5. The wasp larvae parasitize caterpillars to survive.