inquiline

[ in-kwuh-lahyn, -lin ]
/ ˈɪn kwəˌlaɪn, -lɪn /

noun

Zoology. an animal living in the nest, burrow, or body of another animal.

adjective

of the nature of an inquiline.

Origin of inquiline

1635–45; < Latin inquilīnus tenant, equivalent to in- in-2 + -quil-, combining form (noninitially before a front vowel) of colere to live in (see -colous) + -īnus -ine1

OTHER WORDS FROM inquiline

in·qui·lin·i·ty [in-kwuh-lin-i-tee] /ˌɪn kwəˈlɪn ɪ ti/, noun in·qui·li·nous [in-kwuh-lahy-nuh s] /ˌɪn kwəˈlaɪ nəs/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for inquiline

British Dictionary definitions for inquiline

inquiline
/ (ˈɪnkwɪˌlaɪn) /

noun

an animal that lives in close association with another animal without harming it See also commensal (def. 1)

adjective

of or living as an inquiline

Derived forms of inquiline

inquilinism (ˈɪnkwɪlɪˌnɪzəm) or inquilinity (ˌɪnkwɪˈlɪnɪtɪ), noun inquilinous (ˌɪnkwɪˈlaɪnəs), adjective

Word Origin for inquiline

C17: from Latin inquilīnus lodger, from in- ² + colere to dwell