ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›P›parasite
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parasite
an organism that lives on or in another and benefits at its expense
parasite in a sentence
The tapeworm is a parasite that lives inside the intestines of its host.
Biologists explained that the small worm behaves like a parasite, drawing nutrients from the fish without ever giving anything back.
Where it comes from
From Greek parasitos 'one who eats at another's table'
Memory hook
PARA-SITE — it sets up its 'site' right next to (para) you and feeds off you.
Word parts
- par/para — beside, similar
parasite: para (beside) + site (food, from Greek sitos)
Read it in context
- A Battle Inside Science