amoeba

/ə'mi:bə/ Cách viết khác : (amoebae) /ə'mi:bi:/

Thân thiện

A student observes an amoeba under a microscope.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of single-celled organism: An amoeba is 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.
   • A biological classification: The term often refers specifically to organisms belonging to the genus Amoeba, which are typically found in freshwater environments, but can also refer more broadly to similar organisms in marine habitats or as parasites.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • We observed an amoeba under the microscope in biology class.
  • The amoeba engulfed the food particle by surrounding it with its pseudopod.
  • Some diseases, like amoebic dysentery, are caused by parasitic amoebae.

Advanced Usage

• "Amoebic" (adjective): Relating to or caused by amoebae.
  • The patient was diagnosed with an amoebic infection.
• "Amoeboid" (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of an amoeba, especially in movement.
  • Certain white blood cells exhibit amoeboid movement to reach sites of infection.

Variants and Related Words

• Amoebae (n): The plural form of amoeba, often used in scientific contexts.
  • The sample contained numerous diverse amoebae.
• Amoebiasis (n): An infection caused by amoebae, typically referring to intestinal infection.
• Amoebocyte (n): A cell found in some invertebrates (like sponges) that moves like an amoeba.

Synonyms

• Protozoan: A diverse group of single-celled eukaryotic organisms, which includes amoebae.
• Rhizopod: A member of a subclass of protozoans (Rhizopoda) characterized by moving via pseudopodia, which includes many amoebae.

Related Phrases and Terms

• Pseudopod / Pseudopodium: A temporary, foot-like extension of the cell used for movement and feeding.
  • The amoeba formed a pseudopod to capture its prey.
• Phagocytosis: The process by which a cell engulfs a solid particle, which is how an amoeba feeds.
  • Amoebae perform phagocytosis to ingest bacteria.

Học thuật

Noun

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

Từ đồng nghĩa

• ameba