inquiline

[ in-kwuh-lahyn, -lin ]

noun
  1. Zoology. an animal living in the nest, burrow, or body of another animal.

adjective
  1. of the nature of an inquiline.

Origin of inquiline

1
1635–45; <Latin inquilīnus tenant, equivalent to in-in-2 + -quil-, combining form (noninitially before a front vowel) of colere to live in (see -colous) + -īnus-ine1

Other words from inquiline

  • in·qui·lin·i·ty [in-kwuh-lin-i-tee], /ˌɪn kwəˈlɪn ɪ ti/, noun
  • in·qui·li·nous [in-kwuh-lahy-nuhs], /ˌɪn kwəˈlaɪ nəs/, adjective

Words Nearby inquiline

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How to use inquiline in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inquiline

inquiline

/ (ˈɪnkwɪˌlaɪn) /


noun
  1. an animal that lives in close association with another animal without harming it: See also commensal (def. 1)

adjective
  1. of or living as an inquiline

Origin of inquiline

1
C17: from Latin inquilīnus lodger, from in- ² + colere to dwell

Derived forms of inquiline

  • inquilinism (ˈɪnkwɪlɪˌnɪzəm) or inquilinity (ˌɪnkwɪˈlɪnɪtɪ), noun
  • inquilinous (ˌɪnkwɪˈlaɪnəs), adjective

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