myxameba

or myx·a·moe·ba

[ mik-suh-mee-buh ]

noun

, plural myx·a·me·bas, myx·a·me·bae [mik-s, uh, -, mee, -bee].

1. the amebalike, usually nonflagellated, uninucleate haploid individual of a sporocarp that is released upon spore germination and feeds by engulfing bacteria and yeast: a typical stage in the life cycle of cellular slime molds.

Word History and Origins

Origin of myxameba¹

First recorded in 1885–90; myx- + ameba