parasitic

parasitic

CEFR: C1-C2 /par-a-sitic/ [p.eh2.r.ah0.s.ih1.t.ih0.k]

Definition: (Of an organism) living as a parasite: (be parasitic on)

Example Sentences:
Mistletoe is parasitic on trees. Since viruses are parasitic on cellular life, the first life could not have been anything like a virus. Nevertheless, growing these parasitic plants in vitro is difficult, because of their dependence on a connection to hosts for normal development, and because of their specific germination requirements.
The third type of symbiosis, mutualism, benefits both partners in the relationship. Legume plants and their nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and the interactions between flowering plants and their pollinators, are examples of mutualistic association.