parasite

noun pah-rah-ZEET Rare

Also means

freeloader

Usage Note

Parasite covers the biological organism that lives off a host and, colloquially, a person who sponges off others. Les parasites in the context of electronics or telecommunications means 'static' or 'interference'. The adjective parasitaire means 'parasitic'.

Examples

"Ce champignon est un parasite des arbres."

Natural Translation

This fungus is a parasite of trees.

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