parasite
(noun) 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
leech, parasite, sponge, sponger
(noun) a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
Source: WordNet® 3.1
parasite (plural parasites)
(pejorative) A person who lives on other people's efforts or expense and gives little or nothing back. [from 16th c.]
(pejorative) A sycophant or hanger-on.
(biology) An organism that lives on or in another organism of a different species, deriving benefit from living on or in that other organism, while not contributing towards that other organism sufficiently to cover the cost to that other organism.
(literary, poetic) A climbing plant which is supported by a wall, trellis etc. [from 19th c.]
(historical) A retainer or companion of an ancient Celtic warrior, who praised him in song or poetry at gatherings; a bard.
• (useless person): See also scrounger
• commensal (doing no noticeable harm)
• mutualist or sometimes symbiote (beneficial)
• aspirate, pastiera, septaria
Source: Wiktionary
Par"a*site, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. parasitus, Gr.
1. One who frequents the tables of the rich, or who lives at another's expense, and earns his welcome by flattery; a hanger-on; a toady; a sycophant. Thou, with trembling fear, Or like a fawning parasite, obey'st. Milton. Parasites were called such smell-feasts as would seek to be free guests at rich men's tables. Udall.
2. (Bot.) (a) A plant obtaining nourishment immediately from other plants to which it attaches itself, and whose juices it absorbs; -- sometimes, but erroneously, called epiphyte. (b) A plant living on or within an animal, and supported at its expense, as many species of fungi of the genus Torrubia.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) An animal which lives during the whole or part of its existence on or in the body of some other animal, feeding upon its food, blood, or tissues, as lice, tapeworms, etc. (b) An animal which steals the food of another, as the parasitic jager. (c) An animal which habitually uses the nest of another, as the cowbird and the European cuckoo.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
27 February 2025
(verb) reach the summit (of a mountain); “They breasted the mountain”; “Many mountaineers go up Mt. Everest but not all summit”
Decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free. Studies from the National Institute of Health (US) have shown that virtually all decaf coffee types contain caffeine. A 236-ml (8-oz) cup of decaf coffee contains up to 7 mg of caffeine, whereas a regular cup provided 70-140 mg.
