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semiparasite

 - 3 dictionary results

sem⋅i⋅par⋅a⋅sit⋅ic

  [sem-ee-par-uh-sit-ik, sem-ahy-]
Use semiparasite in a Sentence
–adjective
1. Biology. commonly parasitic but also capable of living on dead or decaying animal matter.
2. Botany. partly parasitic and partly photosynthetic.
Origin:
1875–80; semi- + parasitic

Related forms:
sem⋅i⋅par⋅a⋅site  [sem-ee-par-uh-sahyt, sem-ahy-] , noun
sem⋅i⋅par⋅a⋅sit⋅ism  [sem-ee-par-uh-sahy-tiz-uhm, sem-ahy-] , noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To semiparasite
hem·i·par·a·site   (hěm'ĭ-pār'ə-sīt')   
n.  

  1. A plant, such as mistletoe, that obtains some nourishment from its host but also photosynthesizes. Also called semiparasite.

  2. An organism that can live either independently or as a parasite.

hem'i·par'a·sit'ic (-sĭt'ĭk) adj.
sem·i·par·a·site   (sěm'ē-pār'ə-sīt', sěm'ī-)   
n.  See hemiparasite.
sem'i·par'a·sit'ic (-sĭt'ĭk) adj., sem'i·par'a·sit·ism (-sĭ-tĭz'əm) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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