ectocommensal

[ ek-toh-kuh-men-suh l ]
/ ˌɛk toʊ kəˈmɛn səl /

adjective

Biology. (of an organism) living in a commensal relationship on the exterior of another organism.

noun

an ectocommensal organism.

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Origin of ectocommensal

First recorded in 1935–40; ecto- + commensal

OTHER WORDS FROM ectocommensal

ec·to·com·men·sal·ism, ec·to·com·men·sal·i·ty [ek-toh-kom-en-sal-i-tee] /ˌɛk toʊˌkɒm ɛnˈsæl ɪ ti/, nounec·to·com·men·sal·ly, adverb

Words nearby ectocommensal

ecto-, ectoantigen, ectoblast, ectocardia, ectocervix, ectocommensal, ectocornea, ectocrine, ectoderm, ectodermal dysplasia, ectodermosis
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020