ameba

/ə'mi:bə/

Thân thiện

A student observes an ameba under a microscope in biology class.

Definition

Noun 1. A type of single-celled organism: A microscopic, single-celled organism (a protozoan) that lacks a fixed shape. It moves and feeds by extending temporary projections of its cell body called pseudopods. 2. Characteristic habitat: It can be found in freshwater, marine environments, or as a parasite.

Usage

The word "ameba" is used primarily in scientific and biological contexts to describe this specific type of life form. It is a countable noun. - The pond water was teeming with various microorganisms, including the ameba. - Under the microscope, we observed an ameba engulfing a particle of food.

Advanced Usage

• "Naked" ameba: This specifies that the organism does not have a protective shell or test, unlike some other similar protozoa.
• The plural form can be "amebas" or, less commonly, "amebae" (pronounced /əˈmiːbiː/).

Variants and Related Words

• Amoeba: This is the more common British English spelling of the same word. The definitions are identical.
• Amoeboid (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of an ameba in shape or movement.
  • The white blood cell showed amoeboid movement as it approached the bacteria.

Synonyms

• Protozoan: A broader term for single-celled, animal-like microorganisms, which includes amebas.
• Microorganism: A general term for any microscopic organism.

Related Phrases and Idioms

Note: "Ameba" is a specific scientific term and is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs.

Học thuật

Noun

1. naked freshwater or marine or parasitic protozoa that form temporary pseudopods for feeding and locomotion

Từ đồng nghĩa

• amoeba