epizoon
In a nonparasitic way, using an animal's skin as a microhabitatA microorganism (such as a yeast-type fungus or a protozoon) that grows on the surface of an animal host, as: In a nonparasitic way, using an animal's skin as a microhabitat.
Meaning
2 sensesA microorganism (such as a yeast-type fungus or a protozoon) that grows on the surface of an animal host, as:
(usually)In a nonparasitic way, using an animal's skin as a microhabitat.
(uncommon)In a parasitic way, as an external parasite.
any external parasitic organism (as fleas)
Origin
From epi- + -zoon.From epi- + -zoon.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: epizoa / epizoonsSynonyms
4 synonyms- any external parasitic organism (as fleas):ectoparasiteectozoanectozoonepizoan
Word family
2 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.