obligate

One entry found for obligate.

Main Entry: ob·li·gate
Pronunciation: äb-li-gt, -l-gt
Function: adjective
1 : restricted to one particularly characteristic mode of life or way of functioning <the infant is an obligate nose breather -- Journal of the American Medical Association> <an obligate parasite>
2 : biologically essential for survival <obligate parasitism>
- ob·li·gate·ly adverb