parabiosis

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noun

The (natural or surgical) union of parts of two organisms, especially in such a way as to cause them to share their vascular systems. Organisms so joined then are called parabionts.

Scrabble 14

Meanings

nounparabiosis (countable and uncountable, plural parabioses)

plural parabioses

  1. countableuncountablemedicineThe (natural or surgical) union of parts of two organisms, especially in such a way as to cause them to share their vascular systems. Organisms so joined then are called parabionts.

    2017 Cosima in "Manacled Slim Wrists", Orphan Black Mud, parabiosis means that he is processing young blood and transfusing it.

    1 more example

    Parabiosis is the condition of more than one living organism joined ..., with ... circulatory fluids being exchanged among the parabionts.

    2019, Ed. B. Parekkadan et al., Stem Cell Bioengineering
  2. countableuncountableThe fusion of two embryos to form conjoined twins

    Conjoined identical twins... could be thought of as parabionts.

    2019, Ed. B. Parekkadan et al., Stem Cell Bioengineering
  3. countableuncountableA transient physiological state of suspension of obvious vital activities such as to enable an organism to escape the notice of its enemies or to conserve its energy.
  4. countableuncountableethologybiologyA form of symbiosis, typically among ants, in which different species share common nest galleries but maintain distinct broods and do not practice mutualism other than incidentally.
  5. countableuncountablemedicineAn alien form of life within an organism, commonly invasive, such as a growing cancer.

    1873, Walter Moxon, Guy's Hospital Reports, 3rd series, Vol XVIII https://archive.org/details/3reportsguy18guysuoft …the fever sperm coming into ... the living frame ... is able to create a sort of other life or parabiosis within it ....

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

parabiosis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parabiosis

MLA

“parabiosis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parabiosis. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “parabiosis,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parabiosis.

Source: parabiosis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.