Commensal
noun
A living thing that lives with another and benefits from it, but that other is neither harmed nor helped.
The skin is home to trillions of microbes including bacteria, yeasts, and mites which can be considered as commensals in human beings.
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
adjective
Describes an organism living with, on, or in another, without causing harm.
These birds are commensal with humans, living in their houses without causing any harm.
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
A person who eats at another's table, like a guest.
In ancient times, it was not uncommon for a commensal to be invited to feast with the family.
Usage tips
Formal
Historical
noun
A living thing that lives with another and benefits from it, but that other is neither harmed nor helped.
The skin is home to trillions of microbes including bacteria, yeasts, and mites which can be considered as commensals in human beings.
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
adjective
Describes an organism living with, on, or in another, without causing harm.
These birds are commensal with humans, living in their houses without causing any harm.
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
A person who eats at another's table, like a guest.
In ancient times, it was not uncommon for a commensal to be invited to feast with the family.
Usage tips
Formal
Historical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Biological Relationships
Understand the nature of commensalism as a non-harmful coexistence, compared to parasitism (harmful) and mutualism (beneficial to both).
The remora fish is a commensal, hitching a ride on sharks without affecting them.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Impact
Remember that commensals do not provide a benefit to the host like mutualists do.
Commensal fungi may grow on tree bark, but the tree remains unaffected.
Pro Tip 3/3Shared Habitat
In biology, commensal species often share habitats or living spaces with their hosts.
Barnacles living on whales are typical marine commensals.
Pro Tip 1/3Biological Relationships
Understand the nature of commensalism as a non-harmful coexistence, compared to parasitism (harmful) and mutualism (beneficial to both).
The remora fish is a commensal, hitching a ride on sharks without affecting them.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Impact
Remember that commensals do not provide a benefit to the host like mutualists do.
Commensal fungi may grow on tree bark, but the tree remains unaffected.
Pro Tip 3/3Shared Habitat
In biology, commensal species often share habitats or living spaces with their hosts.
Barnacles living on whales are typical marine commensals.
Pro Tip 1/3Biological Relationships
Understand the nature of commensalism as a non-harmful coexistence, compared to parasitism (harmful) and mutualism (beneficial to both).
The remora fish is a commensal, hitching a ride on sharks without affecting them.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Impact
Remember that commensals do not provide a benefit to the host like mutualists do.
Commensal fungi may grow on tree bark, but the tree remains unaffected.
Pro Tip 3/3Shared Habitat
In biology, commensal species often share habitats or living spaces with their hosts.
Barnacles living on whales are typical marine commensals.
Never forget "Commensal"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
The extraordinary lives...
that are closely related to leeches are actually tiny little ecto commensal worms of on all things crayfish now people probably know that leeches have been involved in medicine for a very long time going back almost a thousand years leeches were used for bloodletting for everything from hysteria to obesity
Video examples
Christina Warinner:...
and from this can we get better taxonomic resolution to really understand what's going on? And what we found is that we can find many commensal and pathogenic bacteria that inhabited the nasal passages and mouth. We also have found immune proteins related to infection and inflammation
Video examples
Tracking ancient...
and proteins and from this can we get better taxonomic resolution to really understand what's going on and what we found is that we can find many commensal and pathogenic bacteria that inhabited the nasal passages and mouth we also have found immune proteins related to
Video examples
Parasites Hitch a Ride...
are in fact parasitic while others are commensal posing no threat to the turtle crabs barnacles shrimp oysters algae and other life-forms have all been seen on the Turtles
Video examples
The extraordinary lives...
that are closely related to leeches are actually tiny little ecto commensal worms of on all things crayfish now people probably know that leeches have been involved in medicine for a very long time going back almost a thousand years leeches were used for bloodletting for everything from hysteria to obesity
Video examples
Christina Warinner:...
and from this can we get better taxonomic resolution to really understand what's going on? And what we found is that we can find many commensal and pathogenic bacteria that inhabited the nasal passages and mouth. We also have found immune proteins related to infection and inflammation
Video examples
Tracking ancient...
and proteins and from this can we get better taxonomic resolution to really understand what's going on and what we found is that we can find many commensal and pathogenic bacteria that inhabited the nasal passages and mouth we also have found immune proteins related to
Video examples
Parasites Hitch a Ride...
are in fact parasitic while others are commensal posing no threat to the turtle crabs barnacles shrimp oysters algae and other life-forms have all been seen on the Turtles
Example 1 of 4
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension