semiparasite

9.9

A plant that takes some food and water from another plant but also makes its own food from sunlight

noun
/ˌsɛmiˈpærəˌsaɪt/

Specialized

: semiparásito

The mistletoe is a well-known semiparasite that still performs some photosynthesis.

Examples

Unlike true parasites, a semiparasite can produce its own food through sunlight.
Scientists studied the relationship between the host tree and the semiparasite growing on its branches.
The semiparasite thrives in the forest.
Some semiparasites can photosynthesize effectively.
The mistletoe is a well-known semiparasite that still performs some photosynthesis.
Scientists studied the relationship between the host tree and the semiparasite growing on its branches.
Unlike true parasites, a semiparasite can produce its own food through sunlight.

Synonyms

hemiparasite

vssemiparasite

Specialized

9.9

A plant that makes some food from sunlight but takes water and minerals from another plant

has identical meaning but is an alternate word form

Antonyms

parasitic plant

Specialized

1 5.3

A plant that lives on another plant and takes its food from it

How Parasitic

parasitic plant

Specialized

1 5.3

semiparasite

Specialized

9.9

Surface Forms

semiparasite singular

semiparasites plural

Morphology

semiparasite = parasite (transparent) = semi + parasite

The meaning is directly compositional: 'semi-' means partly, and 'parasite' supplies the core idea of parasitism.

Etymology

Semiparasite comes from semi- ('half'), the same semi- in semicircle, and parasite ('one who lives off another'). So a semiparasite is 'half' a parasite: it takes some food from another plant but still makes its own food using sunlight.