symbiont

American  

[sim-bee-ont, -bahy-] / ˈsɪm biˌɒnt, -baɪ- /

Also symbiote

noun

Biology.

1. an organism living in a state of symbiosis.

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symbiont British  

/ ˈsɪmbɪˌɒnt /

noun

1. an organism living in a state of symbiosis

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symbiont Scientific  

/ sĭm′bē-ŏnt′,-bī- /

1. An organism in a symbiotic relationship. In cases in which a distinction is made between two interacting organisms, the symbiont is the smaller of the two and is always a beneficiary in the relationship, while the larger organism is the host and may or may not derive a benefit.

2. See also host parasite

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Other Word Forms

• symbiontic adjective
• symbiontically adverb

Etymology

Origin of symbiont

1885–90; < Greek symbiont- (stem of symbiṓn ), present participle of symbioûn “to live together”; symbiosis, onto-

Example Sentences

Moreover, it was found that signalling exchange between legume and its symbiont plays a critical role in modulating the profile of root secreted molecules, influencing the assembly of a symbiotic root microbiome.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2024

"A coral's competitive advantage could be lost in a matter of a few degrees depending on what type of symbiont they associate with."

From Science Daily • Nov. 17, 2023

Bacteria, for instance, may make up as much as 95 percent of the serotonin in our bloodstreams, meaning you have a diverse symbiont community to thank for your pleasant mood.

From Slate • Jan. 23, 2020

"The host and the symbiont communicate in ways we don't understand," she says.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 14, 2019

Its previous hosts had been color blind, and the symbiont wallowed in an orgy of bright sensation.

From Insidekick by Bone, Jesse F. (Jesse Franklin)