A parasite aircraft is a component of a composite aircraft which is carried aloft and air launched by a larger carrier aircraft or mother ship to support the primary mission of the carrier. The carrier craft may or may not be able to later recover the parasite during flight.
An F-84 Thunderjet hooked on a FICON trapeze beneath its mother ship
Bristol Scout on Porte Baby
A Sopwith 2F.1 Camel secured under the British HM Airship 23r
A Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk attached by a "skyhook" to USS Macon.
A composite aircraft is made up of multiple component craft. It takes off and flies initially as a single aircraft, with the components able to separate in flight and continue as independent aircraft. Typically the larger aircraft acts as a carrier aircraft or mother ship, with the smaller sometimes called a parasite or jockey craft.
Sopwith 2F.1 Camel suspended under airship R23
F9C Sparrowhawk on the Akron's trapeze
Bristol Scout on Porte Baby
Boeing EB-29 with FICON trapeze and McDonnell XF-85 Goblin parasite fighter