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heteroecism

[het-uh-ree-siz-uh m]

noun Biology.

the development of different stages of a parasitic species on different host plants.

Origin of heteroecism

1870–75; hetero- + Greek oik(ía) “house” + -ism
Related formshet·er·oe·cious [het-uh-ree-shuh s] /ˌhɛt əˈri ʃəs/, adjectivehet·er·oe·cious·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for heteroecious

heteroecious

adjective

(of parasites, esp rust fungi) undergoing different stages of the life cycle on different host speciesCompare autoecious
Derived Formsheteroecism, noun

Word Origin for heteroecious

from hetero- + -oecious, from Greek oikia house
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
heteroecious in Medicine

heteroecious

[hĕt′ə-rē′shəs]

adj.

Spending different stages of a life cycle on different, usually unrelated hosts. Used of parasites such as rust fungi and tapeworms.
Related formshet′er•oe′cism (-sĭz′əm) n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
heteroecious in Science

heteroecious

[hĕt′ə-rē′shəs]

Relating to a parasite that spends different stages of its life cycle on different, usually unrelated hosts. The term is used especially of certain kinds of rust fungi, but may also be applied to other parasites like tapeworms. Compare autoecious.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.