commensal

adjective

com·​men·​sal kə-ˈmen(t)-səl How to pronounce commensal (audio)
: of, relating to, or living in a state of commensalism
commensal organisms
commensal noun
commensally adverb

Did you know?

Commensal types, be they human or beast, often "break bread" together. When they do, they are reflecting the etymology of commensal, which derives from the Latin prefix com-, meaning "with, together," jointly and the Latin adjective mensalis, meaning "of the table." In its earliest English uses, "commensal" referred to people who ate together, but around 1870, biologists started using it for organisms that have no use for a four-piece table setting. Since then, the scientific sense has almost completely displaced the dining one.

Examples of commensal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Dreamtime by Simon Theuma This small, commensal shrimp almost appears to be swimming over a tapestry, but in reality, the technicolor backdrop is the body of a mosaic sea star. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024 Science defines the rat’s relationship to humans as commensal: an association between two species in which one benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. WIRED, 7 Oct. 2023 In fact, it’s become clear that many of these commensal bacteria use the glycans studding mucin molecules as a primary source of energy. Diana Kwon, Discover Magazine, 9 July 2019 In commensal domestication, however, humans unintentionally create an environment that attracts the animal. Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2016 These samples serve as powerful investigative tools in our pursuit to understand how certain commensal microbes can cause or serve as diagnostic readouts. Anthony Martin, Discover Magazine, 26 Apr. 2016 Danska’s research suggests that the composition of commensal microbes diverges in male and female mice around puberty, so something seems to happen to the bacteria around that time. Melinda Wenner Moyer, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2021 Two species, both carnivores to a greater or lesser extent, with different nutritional needs, could have a commensal relationship. James Gorman, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2021 Instead of buying time on the array, Breakthrough Listen is tapping into the data stream while the telescope observes its regular targets—a procedure known as commensal observing. Daniel Clery, Science | AAAS, 10 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commensal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin commensalis, from Latin com- + Late Latin mensalis of the table, from Latin mensa table

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of commensal was in 1877

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Dictionary Entries Near commensal

Cite this Entry

“Commensal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commensal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

commensal

adjective
com·​men·​sal kə-ˈmen(t)-səl How to pronounce commensal (audio)
: relating to or living in a state of commensalism

Medical Definition

commensal

adjective
com·​men·​sal kə-ˈmen(t)-səl How to pronounce commensal (audio)
: of, relating to, or living in a state of commensalism
commensal noun
commensally adverb

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