amoeboid
/ə'mi:bɔid/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Resembling an amoeba in form or movement: Describes something that has the characteristic shape or motion of an amoeba, a single-celled organism known for its ability to change shape.
- Irregular and changeable in shape: Specifically refers to a structure, cell, or movement that is not fixed and can alter its form, similar to the flowing, pseudopod-based locomotion of an amoeba.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- White blood cells exhibit amoeboid movement as they crawl through tissues to reach sites of infection.
- Under the microscope, the organism's amoeboid shape constantly changed as it extended and retracted its pseudopodia.
- Some cancer cells can adopt an amoeboid mode of migration to invade surrounding areas.
Advanced Usage
- "amoeboid cell": A cell that moves or changes shape in a manner similar to an amoeba.
- Macrophages are amoeboid cells of the immune system.
- "amoeboid motion/progression": A specific type of crawling movement involving the formation of temporary projections (pseudopodia).
- The amoeboid motion of the slime mold was fascinating to observe.
Variants and Related Words
- Amoeba (n): The type of single-celled protist from which the adjective is derived.
- An amoeba is a common subject of study in biology.
- Amoebic (adj): Pertaining to or caused by amoebas.
- Amoebic dysentery is a serious intestinal infection.
Synonyms
- Protean: Tending or able to change frequently or easily; versatile. (Shares the concept of changeability but is broader and not specifically biological).
- Shape-shifting: Changing form or shape. (A more general, descriptive synonym).
Related Phrases
- Amoeboid form: The specific, irregular shape characteristic of an amoeba.
- The artist drew inspiration from the amoeboid forms seen in pond water.
- Amoeboid stage: A phase in the life cycle of certain organisms where they resemble or behave like an amoeba.
- The plasmodial slime mold has a multicellular stage and a free-living amoeboid stage.
Adjective
- like an amoeba (especially in having a variable irregular shape)