"parasite" | Definition and Related Words

Noun

An animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant);
It obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host (synset 101387328)
referred to in: flora, plant, plant life - (botany) a living organism lacking the power of locomotion

is a type of: being, organism - a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently
subtypes:
- endoparasite, endozoan, entoparasite, entozoan, entozoon - any of various parasites that live in the internal organs of animals (especially intestinal worms)
- ectoparasite, ectozoan, ectozoon, epizoan, epizoon - any external parasitic organism (as fleas)
- parasitic plant - plant living on another plant and obtaining organic nutriment from it
A follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage (synset 110272371)
is a type of: follower - a person who accepts the leadership of another

same as: leech, sponge, sponger