inquiline

American  

[in-kwuh-lahyn, -lin] / ˈɪn kwəˌlaɪn, -lɪn /

noun

1. Zoology. an animal living in the nest, burrow, or body of another animal.

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adjective

1. of the nature of an inquiline.

inquiline British  

/ ˌɪnkwɪˈlɪnɪtɪ, ˌɪnkwɪˈlaɪnəs, ˈɪnkwɪlɪˌnɪzəm, ˈɪnkwɪˌlaɪn /

noun

1. an animal that lives in close association with another animal without harming it See also commensal

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adjective

1. of or living as an inquiline

Other Word Forms

• inquilinism noun
• inquilinity noun
• inquilinous adjective

Etymology

Origin of inquiline

1635–45; < Latin inquilīnus tenant, equivalent to in- in- ² + -quil-, combining form (noninitially before a front vowel) of colere to live in ( -colous ) + -īnus -ine ¹