semiparasitic

[ sem-ee-par-uh-sit-ik, sem-ahy- ]

adjective

1. Biology. commonly parasitic but also capable of living on dead or decaying animal matter.
2. Botany. partly parasitic and partly photosynthetic.

semiparasitic

/ ˌsɛmɪˈpærəsaɪt; ˌsɛmɪˌpærəˈsɪtɪk; ˌsɛmɪˈpærəsɪˌtɪzəm /

adjective

1. (of plants, such as mistletoe) obtaining some food from a host but undergoing photosynthesis at the same time
2. (of bacteria or fungi) usually parasitic but capable of living as a saprotroph

Derived Forms

• semiparasite, noun
• semiparasitism, noun

Other Words From

• 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-, uh, m, sem-ahy-], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of semiparasitic¹

First recorded in 1875–80; semi- + parasitic

Example Sentences

The Cyclostomes are remarkable among vertebrates in that they are semiparasitic in habit.

From Project Gutenberg