parasitise
/ˈpɛrəsaɪtaɪz/
verb
- To live on or inside another organism (the host) and get food or benefit from it, often harming the host.
- Tapeworms can parasitise the intestines of humans and animals.
- The cuckoo bird parasitises other birds by laying its eggs in their nests.
- Certain fungi parasitise plants, causing diseases like rust and mildew.
- To take advantage of someone or something for personal gain, often in a harmful or unfair way.
- He was accused of parasitising his friend's generosity without ever giving anything back.
- Some politicians parasitise public funds for their own benefit.
- The company tried to parasitise the success of smaller startups by copying their ideas.