Showing Results for "amoeba"

See Also:

• a variation of ameba.

amoeba

American  

[uh-mee-buh] / əˈmi bə /

noun

amoebas, plural amoebae plural

1. a variant of ameba.

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amoeba British  

/ əˈmiːbə /

noun

1. 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

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amoeba Scientific  

/ ə-mē′bə /

amoebas plural

1. 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.

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amoeba Cultural  

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

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Discover More

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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• amoebic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• amoebas
  plural
• amoebae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of amoeba

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

Compare meaning

How does amoeba compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• amoeba vs. paramecium

Explanation

An amoeba is a tiny, single-celled organism. You need a powerful microscope to see an amoeba. An amoeba is distinguished by the fact that it has only one cell, and that the shape of its body is vague and irregular. An amoeba stretches and changes shape as it moves, and reproduces by splitting itself in two. The amoeba was discovered in 1757 and named almost 100 years later, from the Greek root amoibe, or "change."

Example Sentences

L.A. has always been Amoeba for me, just in terms of I love wasting hours in a store that has a deep bench for every section of music that I’m interested in.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

The in-store performance at Amoeba, however, is wildly different from what happens onstage at the Pantages.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2025

Amoeba is best known for its ample vinyl and CD stocks, but its three locations sell a little bit of everything: books, DVDs and Blu-Rays, audiophile gear, and customized merchandise.

From Slate • Mar. 8, 2025

“People come to Amoeba for a variety of reasons: We do live shows, and we have sales and community events.”

From Slate • Mar. 8, 2025

We have dealt mainly with Amoeba, Hydra, and the ant-community which exemplify three somewhat distinct types of organic individuality.

From The Doctrine of Evolution Its Basis and Its Scope by Crampton, Henry Edward