amoeba

American  

[uh-mee-buh] / əˈmi bə /

noun

plural

amoebas, amoebae

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 /

plural

amoebas

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

• amoebic
  adjective

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

She was given a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 1989, near what is now the home of Amoeba Music.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2025

We’ll walk past Amoeba sometimes and remember that version of ourselves: me, burned out and bracing for more disappointment; him, trying to heal and rebuild.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 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

A slight step upward from the Moneron brings us to the Amoeba.

From A Series of Lessons in Gnani Yoga by Atkinson, William Walker