parasitic
gb/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk/ us/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk/
C1
English
élősködő, parazita
C1
1
Usage pattern:
parasitic [organism]/[insect]/[plant]
Ticks are parasitic and feed on the blood of mammals and birds.
A kullancsok élősködők, emlősök és madarak vérével táplálkoznak.
The lab studied a parasitic fungus that attacks wheat plants.
A laboratórium egy búzát megtámadó parazita gombát vizsgált.
Some fish have a parasitic stage early in their life cycle.
Learner examples
A parasitic worm can make people sick.
Egy parazita féreg megbetegítheti az embereket.
This plant is parasitic and grows on trees.
Ez a növény élősködő, és fákon nő.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse parasitic (living off a host) with poisonous/venomous (harmful because of toxins).
Meaning
living on another organism
Collocations
parasitic worm
|parasitic infection
|parasitic disease
|parasitic wasp
|parasitic plant
|parasitic fungi
|parasitic organism
|parasitic lifestyle
|parasitic species
|parasitic relationship (biological)
Synonyms
parasitical (Less common variant; often sounds more formal or technical.)
|
host-dependent (More descriptive; used mainly in scientific contexts.)
Antonyms
self-sustaining (Able to survive without relying on a host.)
|
free-living (Not living on or in a host organism.)
Themes
biology
|animals
|plants
|health
Definition
Living on another living thing and using it for food.
Living on or in another living organism (the host) and getting food or other benefits from it, usually harming the host.
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
parasitic [person]/[group]/[system]/[behavior]
He described the industry as parasitic, profiting from communities while giving little back.
Az iparágat élősködőnek nevezte, mert hasznot húz a közösségekből, miközben alig ad vissza valamit.
Their friendship started to feel parasitic, with one person always asking for favors.
A barátságuk kezdett élősködőnek hatni, mert az egyikük állandóan szívességeket kért.
Critics argue that the model encourages parasitic behavior rather than cooperation.
Learner examples
It felt parasitic because he only took money.
Élősködőnek tűnt, mert csak pénzt vett el.
A parasitic relationship is not healthy.
Az élősködő kapcsolat nem egészséges.
Common mistake:
Often used as a strong criticism; it can sound insulting if used about a person or group.
Meaning
taking without giving back
Collocations
parasitic behavior
|parasitic dependence
|parasitic relationship
|parasitic system
|parasitic economy
|parasitic middlemen
|parasitic practices
|parasitic attachment
Synonyms
exploitative (More general; doesn’t necessarily imply dependence.)
|
predatory (Emphasizes aggressive taking advantage, often in business.)
Antonyms
mutual (Both sides benefit rather than one taking.)
|
supportive (Helpful and contributing rather than draining.)
Themes
society
|relationships
|business
Definition
Using others and not giving anything back.
Using other people or organizations for your own benefit while giving little or nothing in return; exploitative.
C2
TECHNICAL
3
parazita
C1
Usage pattern:
parasitic [capacitance]/[loss]/[drag]/[load]
The engineer reduced parasitic capacitance by changing the board layout.
A mérnök a panel elrendezésének módosításával csökkentette a parazita kapacitást.
A parasitic loss in the drivetrain lowered the vehicle’s efficiency.
A hajtásláncban fellépő parazita veszteség csökkentette a jármű hatásfokát.
They traced the noise to parasitic oscillations in the amplifier.
Learner examples
Parasitic capacitance can affect a circuit.
A parazita kapacitás befolyásolhat egy áramkört.
The test found parasitic losses.
A vizsgálat parazita veszteségeket mutatott ki.
Common mistake:
In technical writing, parasitic usually means 'unintended'; it does not mean caused by biological parasites.
Meaning
unwanted side effect in systems
Collocations
parasitic capacitance
|parasitic resistance
|parasitic inductance
|parasitic loss
|parasitic drain
|parasitic load
|parasitic oscillation
|parasitic drag
|parasitic effects
Synonyms
spurious (Highlights being false or unintended; common in signals/measurements.)
|
unintended (General term; less technical flavor than parasitic.)
Antonyms
intended (Designed on purpose rather than an unwanted side effect.)
|
deliberate (Emphasizes purposeful inclusion in the design.)
Themes
technology
|engineering
|science
Definition
An unwanted extra effect in a machine or circuit.
Existing as an unintended and usually undesirable byproduct of a system or design, especially in electronics or engineering.
Grammar
Dictionary form
parasitic
IPA
GB/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk/
US/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk/
Syllables & stress
para - sit - ic (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ic)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: parasitic
Word family
Core family
parasite
noun B2
Advanced or less common
parasitism
noun
parasitically
adverb
parasitize
verb
Expressions
parasitic capacitance
1/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk kəpˈæsɪtəns/
fixed phrase
technical
unwanted capacitance in circuits
Extra capacitance that happens by accident in a circuit.
Examples
- Parasitic capacitance can limit the speed of high-frequency circuits.
- Shorter traces helped reduce parasitic capacitance on the PCB.
- The simulation included parasitic capacitance from the package.
Learner examples
- Parasitic capacitance can cause problems.
- They reduced parasitic capacitance.
parasitic drain
1/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk dɹˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
technical
unwanted battery power loss
A problem where a battery loses power because something is still using electricity.
Examples
- The mechanic diagnosed a parasitic drain that was killing the car battery overnight.
- A faulty module can cause parasitic drain even when the vehicle is parked.
- They measured the current to find the source of the parasitic drain.
Learner examples
- The car has a parasitic drain.
- Parasitic drain can empty a battery.
parasitic infection
1/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk ɪnfˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
infection caused by parasites
An illness caused by a parasite.
Examples
- The doctor suspected a parasitic infection after the patient returned from travel.
- Parasitic infections can spread through contaminated water.
- They treated the parasitic infection with antiparasitic medication.
Learner examples
- She has a parasitic infection.
- They treated his parasitic infection.
parasitic load
1/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk lˈoʊd/
fixed phrase
technical
unintended demand on a system
Extra energy use that does not help.
Examples
- Standby electronics can create a parasitic load that reduces overall efficiency.
- Engine accessories add parasitic load and lower fuel economy.
- The audit identified parasitic loads during non-operating hours.
Learner examples
- The device has a parasitic load.
- Parasitic loads waste energy.
parasitic plant
1/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk plˈænt/
fixed phrase
plant that feeds from a host
A plant that takes food or water from another plant.
Examples
- Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on trees.
- The parasitic plant weakened the host by stealing water and nutrients.
- They removed parasitic plants to protect the orchard.
Learner examples
- Mistletoe is a parasitic plant.
- Parasitic plants can harm trees.
parasitic twin
1/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk twˈɪn/
fixed phrase
technical
underdeveloped twin attached to another
A very rare condition where one twin is attached to the other and depends on it.
Examples
- Doctors identified a parasitic twin during imaging before the surgery.
- The child underwent an operation to remove the parasitic twin.
- Cases involving a parasitic twin are extremely rare.
Learner examples
- A parasitic twin is very rare.
parasitic wasp
1/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk wˈɑsp/
fixed phrase
wasp that lays eggs in hosts
A wasp that uses another insect to raise its young.
Examples
- The farmer released parasitic wasps to control crop pests.
- A parasitic wasp can lay its eggs inside a caterpillar.
- Researchers studied how parasitic wasps locate their hosts.
Learner examples
- Parasitic wasps can help farmers.
- A parasitic wasp lays eggs in insects.
parasitic worm
1/pˌɛɹəsˈɪtɪk wˈɚm/
fixed phrase
worm living inside a host
A worm that lives in a person or animal and can cause illness.
Examples
- The test confirmed a parasitic worm in the dog’s intestines.
- Some parasitic worms enter the body through contaminated food.
- Regular deworming helps prevent parasitic worms in pets.
Learner examples
- The cat has a parasitic worm.
- Parasitic worms can make you sick.