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commensal
[ kuh-men-suhl ]
adjective
- eating together at the same table.
- Ecology. (of an animal, plant, fungus, etc.) living with, on, or in another, without injury to either.
- Sociology. (of a person or group) not competing while residing in or occupying the same area as another individual or group having independent or different values or customs.
noun
- a companion at table.
- Ecology. a commensal organism.
commensal
/ ˌkɒmɛnˈsælɪtɪ; kəˈmɛnsəl /
adjective
- (of two different species of plant or animal) living in close association, such that one species benefits without harming the other
- rare.of or relating to eating together, esp at the same table
commensal pleasures
noun
- a commensal plant or animal
- rare.a companion at table
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Derived Forms
- commensality, noun
- comˈmensally, adverb
- comˈmensalism, noun
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Other Words From
- com·mensal·ism noun
- com·men·sal·i·ty [kom-en-, sal, -i-tee], noun
- com·mensal·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins
Origin of commensal1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of commensal1
C14: from Medieval Latin commensālis, from Latin com- together + mensa table
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Example Sentences
The shells of hermit-crabs serve frequently as the home of other animals which live with them a commensal life.
From Project Gutenberg
Pinnixa cylindrica, a related species, lives in the tubes of large annelid worms as a commensal.
From Project Gutenberg
Heretofore, as far as I know, it has only been recorded as a tube commensal with a large Amphitrite.
From Project Gutenberg
Plants or other materials used in their construction and any commensal arthropods present were saved and later identified.
From Project Gutenberg
From them Schaudinn decided that the poisonous action of the mosquito bite is caused by an enzyme from a commensal fungus.
From Project Gutenberg
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