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

/ ˌsɛmɪˈpærəsɪˌtɪzəm, ˌsɛmɪˌpærəˈsɪtɪk, ˌsɛmɪˈpærəsaɪt /

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

Other Word Forms

• semiparasite noun
• semiparasitism 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.

Read more on Project Gutenberg