online vocabulary.com

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.

parasitize

/ˈpærəsaɪtˌaɪz/ /ˈpærəsaɪtˌaɪz/

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.

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS