epizoon

American

[ep-uh-zoh-on, -uhn] / ˌɛp əˈzoʊ ɒn, -ən /

Or epizoite

noun

Biology.

PLURAL

epizoa

an external parasite or commensal on the body of an animal; ectozoon.

epizoon British

/ ˌɛpɪˈzəʊɒn /

noun

an animal, such as a parasite, that lives on the body of another animal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

epizoan adjective

Etymology

Origin of epizoon

From New Latin, dating back to 1830–40; epi-, -zoon

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Epizoon, ep-i-zō′on, n. a parasitic animal that lives on the bodies of other animals and derives its nourishment from the skin—also Epizō′an:—pl.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon some very remarkable new forms of Annelids, and especially upon the much contested genus Sagitta, which I have evidence to show is neither a Mollusc nor an Epizoon, but an Annelid.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023