Standard Lemma guide

inquiline

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈɪŋkwɪlaɪn/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An animal that lives commensally in the nest, burrow, gall, or dwelling place of an animal of another species.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An organism that lives within a reservoir of water collected in the hollow of a plant stem or leaf.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Latin inquilīnus (“tenant, lodger”).

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: inquilin — animal that lives commensally in the dwelling place of another species
  • Malay: inkuilin — animal that lives commensally in the dwelling place of another species
  • Romanian: incvilin — animal that lives commensally in the dwelling place of another species
  • Russian: инквилин (inkvilin) — animal that lives commensally in the dwelling place of another species
  • Spanish: inquilino — animal that lives commensally in the dwelling place of another species
  • Turkish: konuk — animal that lives commensally in the dwelling place of another species
  • Ukrainian: інквілі́н (inkvilín) — animal that lives commensally in the dwelling place of another species