Origin: Greek prefix para-
Parasitic has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
A component of a circuit that does not show up in a circuit's schematic but does show up in the circuit's behavior.
"The engineer discovered that an unexpected parasitic effect was causing the amplifier to oscillate, even though no such element appeared on the original design drawings."
of or pertaining to epenthesis
"The linguist noted that the child's speech contained several parasitic vowels inserted between consonant clusters where none were originally intended."
of plants or persons; having the nature or habits of a parasite or leech; living off another
"a wealthy class parasitic upon the labor of the masses"
"parasitic vines that strangle the trees"
"bloodsucking blackmailer"
"his indolent leechlike existence"
Of or pertaining to a biological or symbolic parasite.
"The plant's roots were parasitic, draining nutrients directly from the host tree without offering anything in return."