semiparasitic

[ sem-ee-par-uh-sit-ik, sem-ahy- ]
/ ˌsɛm iˌpær əˈsɪt ɪk, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

Biology. commonly parasitic but also capable of living on dead or decaying animal matter.
Botany. partly parasitic and partly photosynthetic.

Origin of semiparasitic

First recorded in 1875–80; semi- + parasitic

OTHER WORDS FROM semiparasitic

sem·i·par·a·site [sem-ee-par-uh-sahyt, sem-ahy-] /ˌsɛm iˈpær əˌsaɪt, ˌsɛm aɪ-/, noun sem·i·par·a·sit·ism [sem-ee-par-uh-sahy-tiz-uh m, sem-ahy-] /ˌsɛm iˈpær əˌsaɪ tɪz əm, ˌsɛm aɪ-/, noun

Words nearby semiparasitic

semioviparous, semipalatinsk, semipalmate, semipalmated plover, semipalmated sandpiper, semiparasitic, semipermanent, semipermeable, semiplastic, semipolar bond, semipolitical

British Dictionary definitions for semi-parasite

semiparasitic
/ (ˌsɛmɪˌpærəˈsɪtɪk) /

adjective

(of plants, such as mistletoe) obtaining some food from a host but undergoing photosynthesis at the same time
(of bacteria or fungi) usually parasitic but capable of living as a saprotroph

Derived forms of semiparasitic

semiparasite (ˌsɛmɪˈpærəsaɪt), noun semiparasitism (ˌsɛmɪˈpærəsɪˌtɪzəm), noun