ameba

American  

[uh-mee-buh] / əˈmi bə /

Or amoeba

noun

plural

amebas, amebae

1. 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.

2. a protozoan of the genus Amoeba, inhabiting bottom vegetation of freshwater ponds and streams: used widely in laboratory studies.

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ameba British  

/ əˈmiːbə /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of amoeba

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Other Word Forms

• amebalike adjective
• amebic adjective

Etymology

Origin of ameba

From New Latin amoeba, from Greek amoibḗ “change, alternation,”, akin to ameíbein “to exchange”

Example Sentences

People are infected when water containing the ameba enters the body through the nose, usually when people go swimming or diving in lakes and rivers.

From Seattle Times

“Ask me about brain-eating amebas,” a supervisor in the waterborne disease prevention branch beckoned on a sign.

From The Wall Street Journal

The ameba eats and grows as do other animals.

From Project Gutenberg

So the ameba grows and moves and does as it likes.

From Project Gutenberg

“Those are some dried specimens of ameba that I wish to study under a microscope.”

From Project Gutenberg