parasitoid
9.8
Describing a creature that lives on another animal or plant and eventually kills it
- adjective
- /ˈpærəˌsaɪtɔɪd/
- Specialized
:
parásitoide
- The complex life cycle of the parasitoid involves using a living host, which it eventually kills for its growth.
Examples
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In the rainforest, researchers observed a parasitoid species that invades and ultimately kills its insect host.
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The scientist studied the parasitoid wasp that lays its eggs inside caterpillars, leading to the caterpillar's death.
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Oh, there it is, parasitoid and host alien.
How Parasitic
Surface Forms
parasitoid positive
Morphology
Etymology
Parasitoid comes from parasite ('one who eats at another's table') and the ending -oid which means 'like', as in humanoid. So parasitoid describes something 'like a parasite' but different because it eventually kills its host, which is why we use the adjective for that kind of life cycle.