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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UK:/məˈmɛk.əˌfʌɪt/
US:/ˈmɝ.mə.kəˌfaɪt/
1
noun
Meaning 1
A plant that lives in association with a colony of ants. The degree of association varies and is assumed to be symbiotic in some cases.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
plant that affords shelter or food to ants that live in symbiotic relations with it
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: plant, flora, plant life
History
Etymology
From German Myrmekophyt, equivalent to myrmeco- (“ant”) + -phyte (“plant”).
Across languages
Translations
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
muurahaissuosija
— plant that lives in association with a colony of ants
Finnish:
muurahaiskasvi
— plant that lives in association with a colony of ants
Finnish:
myrmekofyytti
— plant that lives in association with a colony of ants