---
title: parasitic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «parasitic» in the school dictionary: Living on or inside another living thing (the host) and taking food from it, often harming it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# parasitic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Head lice, parasitic insects, Mistletoe, parasitic plant, wasps, Washing · **What happens:** live, take, harm, cause, give back, be · **To what, where:** living thing, food, others, anything, parasitic insects, hair

<!-- .vabout -->
«parasitic» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [parasitic in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/parasitic.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Living on or inside another living thing (the host) and taking food from it, often harming it.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parasitic:m1:1
# text = Living on or inside another living thing (the host) and taking food from it, often harming it.
1	Living	live	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
4	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	det	_	_
6	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	host	host	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
14	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
15	from	from	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	often	often	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	harming	harm	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | gerund |  |  |  | another living thing |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on thing=Location |
| 2 | **take** | gerund |  | food |  | food |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent food=Theme from it=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **harm** | gerund |  | food |  |  |  | often *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus it=Experiencer |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Caused by parasites: a parasitic disease.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parasitic:m2:1
# text = Caused by parasites: a parasitic disease.
1	Caused	cause	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	by	by	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	parasites	parasite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	parasitic	parasitic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	disease	disease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by parasites and a parasitic disease | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: about people, disapproving — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taking from others without giving anything back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parasitic:m3:1
# text = Taking from others without giving anything back.
1	Taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	from	from	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
4	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
6	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	back	back	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | gerund |  |  |  | others |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent from other=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **give back** | gerund |  | anything |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Head lice are parasitic insects that live in hair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parasitic:x1:1
# text = Head lice are parasitic insects that live in hair.
1	Head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	lice	louse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	parasitic	parasitic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Head lice | parasitic insects |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | parasitic insects |  |  | hair |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in hair=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on trees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parasitic:x2:1
# text = Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on trees.
1	Mistletoe	Mistletoe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	parasitic	parasitic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Mistletoe | a parasitic plant |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | present | a parasitic plant |  |  | trees |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on tree=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some wasps are parasitic and lay eggs inside caterpillars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parasitic:x3:1
# text = Some wasps are parasitic and lay eggs inside caterpillars.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	wasps	wasp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	parasitic	parasitic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	lay	lay	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
8	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	caterpillars	caterpillar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some wasps |  |  |  |  | parasitic *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Washing your hands helps stop parasitic worms spreading.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parasitic:x4:1
# text = Washing your hands helps stop parasitic worms spreading.
1	Washing	wash	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
6	parasitic	parasitic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	worms	worm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	spreading	spread	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | gerund |  | your hands |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |
| 2 | **help** | present | Washing |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **stop** | infinitive | Washing *not said here* | parasitic worms |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **spread** | gerund | Washing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vet gave the dog a tablet for parasitic worms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parasitic:x5:1
# text = The vet gave the dog a tablet for parasitic worms.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vet	vet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	tablet	tablet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	parasitic	parasitic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	worms	worm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the vet | a tablet | the dog |  |  | for parasitic worms | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent dog=Recipient tablet=Theme for worm=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story's villain lived a parasitic life, spending other people's money.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parasitic:x6:1
# text = The story's villain lived a parasitic life, spending other people's money.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	parasitic	parasitic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	spending	spend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
11	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | the story's villain | a parasitic life |  |  |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme life=Location |
| 2 | **spend** | gerund | the story's villain *not said here* | other people's money |  |  |  |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Asset |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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