Parasite vs. Germ — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Parasite and Germ
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Compare with Definitions
Parasite
(Biology) An organism that lives and feeds on or in an organism of a different species and causes harm to its host.
Germ
(Biology) A small mass of protoplasm or cells from which a new organism or one of its parts may develop.
Parasite
One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.
Germ
The earliest form of an organism; a seed, bud, or spore.
Parasite
One who lives off and flatters the rich; a sycophant.
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Germ
A microorganism, especially a pathogen.
Parasite
A professional dinner guest, especially in ancient Greece.
Germ
Something that may serve as the basis of further growth or development
The germ of a project.
Parasite
(pejorative) A person who lives on other people's efforts or expense and gives little or nothing back.
Germ
(biology) The small mass of cells from which a new organism develops; a seed, bud, spore, or zygote.
Parasite
(pejorative) A sycophant or hanger-on.
Germ
The embryo of a seed, especially of a seed used as a cereal or grain. See Wikipedia article on cereal germ.
Parasite
(biology) An organism that lives on or in another organism of a different species, deriving benefit from living on or in that other organism, while not contributing towards that other organism sufficiently to cover the cost to that other organism.
Lice, fleas, ticks and mites are widely spread parasites.
Germ
(biology) The small mass of cells from which a part of an organism develops, or a macroscopic but immature form of that part; a bud.
Surgical removal of germs of wisdom teeth
Parasite
A climbing plant which is supported by a wall, trellis etc.
Germ
A pathogen: a pathogenic microorganism, such as a bacterium or virus.
Parasite
(historical) A retainer or companion of an ancient Celtic warrior, who praised him in song or poetry at gatherings; a bard.
Germ
(figurative) The origin or earliest version of an idea or project.
The germ of civil liberty
Parasite
(aviation) A component of a composite aircraft which is carried aloft and air-launched by a larger carrier aircraft or mother ship to support the primary mission of the carrier.
Germ
An equivalence class that includes a specified function defined in an open neighborhood.
Parasite
One who frequents the tables of the rich, or who lives at another's expense, and earns his welcome by flattery; a hanger-on; a toady; a sycophant.
Thou, with trembling fear,Or like a fawning parasite, obey'st.
Parasites were called such smell-feasts as would seek to be free guests at rich men's tables.
Germ
To germinate.
Parasite
A plant obtaining nourishment immediately from other plants to which it attaches itself, and whose juices it absorbs; - sometimes, but erroneously, called epiphyte.
Germ
(slang) To grow, as if parasitic.
Parasite
An animal which lives during the whole or part of its existence on or in the body of some other animal, feeding upon its food, blood, or tissues, as lice, tapeworms, etc.
Germ
That which is to develop a new individual; as, the germ of a fetus, of a plant or flower, and the like; the earliest form under which an organism appears.
In the entire process in which a new being originates . . . two distinct classes of action participate; namely, the act of generation by which the germ is produced; and the act of development, by which that germ is evolved into the complete organism.
Parasite
An animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); the parasite obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host
Germ
That from which anything springs; origin; first principle; as, the germ of civil liberty.
Parasite
A follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
Germ
The germ cells, collectively, as distinguished from the somatic cells, or soma. Germ is often used in place of germinal to form phrases; as, germ area, germ disc, germ membrane, germ nucleus, germ sac, etc.
Germ
A microorganism, especially a disease-causing bacterium or virus; - used informally, as, the don't eat food that falls on the floor, it may have germs on it.
Germ
To germinate.
Germ
Anything that provides inspiration for later work
Germ
A small simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism
Germ
A minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use
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