PARASITIC

parasitic, parasitical, leechlike, bloodsucking

(adjective) of plants or persons; having the nature or habits of a parasite or leech; living off another; “a wealthy class parasitic upon the labor of the masses”; “parasitic vines that strangle the trees”; “bloodsucking blackmailer”; “his indolent leechlike existence”

epenthetic, parasitic

(adjective) of or pertaining to epenthesis

parasitic, parasitical

(adjective) relating to or caused by parasites; “parasitic infection”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

parasitic (not comparable)

Of or pertaining to a biological or symbolic parasite.

Drawing upon another organism for sustenance.

Exploiting another for personal gain.

Noun

parasitic (plural parasitics)

(electronics) A component of a circuit that does not show up in a circuit's schematic but does show up in the circuit's behavior.

Source: Wiktionary

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Par`a*sit"ic, Par`a*sit"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. parasiticus, Gr. parasitique.]

1. Of the nature of a parasite; fawning for food or favors; sycophantic. "Parasitic preachers." Milton.

2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Definition: Of or pertaining to parasites; living on, or deriving nourishment from, some other living animal or plant. See Parasite, 2 & 3. Parasitic gull, Parasitic jager. (Zoöl.) See Jager.

– Par`a*sit"ic*al*ly, adv.

– Par`a*sit"ic*al*ness, n.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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