free-living
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not parasitic on another organism: Describes an organism that lives independently and does not rely on another organism (a host) for its survival, nutrition, or habitat. It is the opposite of being parasitic.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Most plants are free-living organisms, producing their own food through photosynthesis.
- Unlike tapeworms, earthworms are free-living creatures found in the soil.
- The study compared the genomes of parasitic and free-living nematodes.
Advanced Usage
- In ecology/biology: The term is primarily used in scientific contexts to describe the life mode of an organism.
- The transition from a free-living to a parasitic lifestyle is a major evolutionary step.
Variants and Related Words
- Free-living (hyphenated form): The standard adjectival form.
- Free living (open form, less common): Sometimes used, especially in more general contexts.
- Non-parasitic: A direct synonym often used in scientific literature.
- Independent: A more general term that can apply in biological and non-biological contexts.
Synonyms
- Non-parasitic
- Independent
- Autonomous (in a biological sense)
- Self-sufficient
Antonyms
- Parasitic
- Dependent
- Symbiotic (specifically in a parasitic sense, though symbiosis can be mutualistic)
Adjective
-
not parasitic on another organism
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