ameboid
A single-celled organism moves with ameboid motion across the microscope slide.
- Adjective:
- Resembling an amoeba in form or movement: Describes something that has the characteristic shape or motion of an amoeba, particularly being variable and irregular.
- Of or relating to amoeboid movement: Pertaining to the flowing, shape-changing locomotion typical of amoebas and some types of cells.
- Adjective:
- Under the microscope, the white blood cell exhibited ameboid movement as it crawled toward the bacteria.
- The artist tried to capture the ameboid, constantly shifting shape of the single-celled organism in her painting.
"ameboid cell": A cell, such as a leukocyte or a macrophage, that is capable of moving and changing shape like an amoeba.
- Certain immune cells are ameboid and can squeeze through capillary walls to reach infected tissue.
"ameboid stage": A phase in the life cycle of some organisms where they exist as a single, shape-changing cell.
- The slime mold exists in an ameboid stage before aggregating to form a fruiting body.
Amoeba (n): A type of single-celled organism known for its shape-changing ability.
- The pond water was teeming with amoebas.
Amoebic (adj): Caused by or relating to amoebas.
- He was treated for an amoebic infection.
Amoebocyte (n): A cell found in invertebrates that moves and functions in a manner similar to an amoeba.
- The sponge's amoebocytes transport nutrients throughout its body.
- Amoebiform: Having the form of an amoeba.
- Protean: Extremely variable; readily assuming different shapes or forms (broader literary synonym).
Pseudopod (n): A temporary, foot-like extension of cytoplasm used by an amoeba for movement and feeding. Ameboid movement is characterized by the formation of pseudopods.
- The ameboid cell extended a pseudopod to engulf the particle.
Phagocytosis (n): The process by which a cell engulfs a solid particle. This is a key function of ameboid cells.
- Macrophages perform phagocytosis using their ameboid capabilities.
A single-celled organism moves with ameboid motion across the microscope slide.
- like an amoeba (especially in having a variable irregular shape)