amoeba

[ uh-mee-buh ]
/ əˈmi bə /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR amoeba ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural a·moe·bas, a·moe·bae [uh-mee-bee] /əˈmi bi/.

ameba.

Words nearby amoeba

amniotic fold, amniotic sac, amniotome, amniotomy, amobarbital, amoeba, amoebaean, amoebiasis, amoebic, amoebic dysentery, amoebocyte

Definition for amoeba (2 of 2)

ameba

or a·moe·ba

[ uh-mee-buh ]
/ əˈmi bə /

noun, plural a·me·bas, a·me·bae [uh-mee-bee] /əˈmi bi/.

any of numerous freshwater, marine, or parasitic one-celled protozoa of the order Amoebida, characterized by a granular nucleus surrounded by a jellylike mass of cytoplasm that forms temporary extensions, or pseudopodia, by which the organism moves, engulfs food particles, and forms food vacuoles.
a protozoan of the genus Amoeba, inhabiting bottom vegetation of freshwater ponds and streams: used widely in laboratory studies.

Origin of ameba

< New Latin amoeba < Greek amoibḗ change, alternation, akin to ameíbein to exchange

OTHER WORDS FROM ameba

a·me·ba·like, adjective

Words related to amoeba

animalculum, n, animalcule

Example sentences from the Web for amoeba

British Dictionary definitions for amoeba (1 of 2)

amoeba

US ameba

/ (əˈmiːbə) /

noun plural -bae (-biː) or -bas

any protozoan of the phylum Rhizopoda, esp any of the genus Amoeba, able to change shape because of the movements of cell processes (pseudopodia). They live in fresh water or soil or as parasites in man and animals

Derived forms of amoeba

amoebic or US amebic, adjective

Word Origin for amoeba

C19: from New Latin, from Greek amoibē change, from ameibein to change, exchange

British Dictionary definitions for amoeba (2 of 2)

ameba
/ (əˈmiːbə) /

noun plural -bae (-biː) or -bas

the usual US spelling of amoeba

Derived forms of ameba

amebic, adjective

Medical definitions for amoeba (1 of 3)

amoeba
[ ə-mē′bə ]

n.

Variant ofameba

Medical definitions for amoeba (2 of 3)

Amoeba
[ ə-mē′bə ]

n. pl. a•moe•bas

A genus of protozoa of the class Sarcodina or Rhizopoda.
Any of several genera of protozoa that are parasitic in humans, especially Entamoeba.

Medical definitions for amoeba (3 of 3)

ameba

n. pl. a•me•bas

A protozoa of the genus Amoeba and of related genera, occurring in soil and water and parasitic in animals.

Scientific definitions for amoeba (1 of 2)

amoeba
[ ə-mē′bə ]

Plural amoebas amoebae (ə-mē′bē)

Any of various one-celled aquatic or parasitic protozoans of the genus Amoeba or related genera, having no definite form and consisting of a mass of protoplasm containing one or more nuclei surrounded by a flexible outer membrane. Amoebas move by means of pseudopods.

Scientific definitions for amoeba (2 of 2)

ameba
[ ə-mē′bə ]

Another spelling of amoeba.

Cultural definitions for amoeba

amoeba
[ (uh-mee-buh) ]

An animal composed of only one cell that has no fixed shape. It is the best known of the single-celled animals, or protozoa.

notes for amoeba

The term amoeba is sometimes used to refer to something with an indefinite, changeable shape.