different between parasitic vs parasitical

English

Alternative forms

• parasitical

Etymology

parasite +? -ic

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pæ.???s?t.?k/
• (US) IPA^(key): /p??.??s?t.?k/

Adjective

parasitic (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to a biological or symbolic parasite.
2. Drawing upon another organism for sustenance.
3. Exploiting another for personal gain.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

parasitic (plural parasitics)

1. (electronics) A component of a circuit that does not show up in a circuit's schematic but does show up in the circuit's behavior.

English

Adjective

parasitical (comparative more parasitical, superlative most parasitical)

1. of, pertaining to, or having the characteristics of a parasite; parasitic
   • 1826 Conrad Malte-Brun - Universal Geography

     The parasitical plants render the forests impassable in many places

   • 2005 Stephen J. Pfohl - Culture, Power, and History

     Unconventional, circulating, parasitical, the rogue state that is the essence of American empire enters the political bloodstream of world terrorism . . .

Translations