Main Entry: par·a·si·tol·o·gy

Pronunciation: \ˌper-ə-sə-ˈtä-lə-jē, -ˌsī-, ˌpa-rə-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin parasitus + International Scientific Vocabulary -logy

Date: 1882

: a branch of biology dealing with parasites and parasitism especially among animals

— par·a·si·to·log·i·cal \-ˌsi-tə-ˈlä-ji-kəl, -ˌsī-\ also par·a·si·to·log·ic \-jik\ adjective

— par·a·si·to·log·i·cal·ly \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— par·a·si·tol·o·gist \-sə-ˈtä-lə-jist, -ˌsī-\ noun