Illustration of amoeba
- 1 pseudopodium
- 2 nucleus
- 3 contractile vacuole
- 4 food vacuole
variants
or less commonly ameba
plural amoebas or amoebae also amebas or amebae
ə-ˈmē-(ˌ)bē 
: any of a large genus (Amoeba) of naked rhizopod protozoans with lobed and never anastomosing pseudopodia, without permanent organelles or supporting structures, and of wide distribution in fresh and salt water and moist terrestrial environments
broadly
: a naked rhizopod or other amoeboid protozoan
amoebic
adjective
or less commonly amebic
ə-ˈmē-bik
Examples of amoeba in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists have long argued if the Ediacara fauna were true animals and not some sort of large-bodied amoeba, lichens (!), or a completely extinct branch of life-forms.
—
David Bressan, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Some microorganisms, such as the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, can enter the brain this way, but those incidents are rare.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Sep. 2024
When water gets up the nose, the amoeba can enter and travel up to reach the brain.
—Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 12 Aug. 2024
Beware of brain-eating amoebas, too Another rare but often fatal risk involves the amoeba Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for amoeba 
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David Bressan, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Some microorganisms, such as the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, can enter the brain this way, but those incidents are rare.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Sep. 2024
When water gets up the nose, the amoeba can enter and travel up to reach the brain.
—Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 12 Aug. 2024
Beware of brain-eating amoebas, too Another rare but often fatal risk involves the amoeba Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for amoeba
Dictionary Entries Near amoeba
Cite this Entry
“Amoeba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amoeba. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
amoeba
noun
amoe·ba
variants
also ameba
ə-ˈmē-bə
plural amoebas or amoebae
-(ˌ)bē
: any of a large genus of protozoans that have no permanent cell organs or structures, that change shape to form temporary lobes for moving and taking in food, and that are widespread in fresh and salt water and in moist soils
Medical Definition
amoeba
noun
amoe·ba
ə-ˈmē-bə
1
capitalized
: a large genus of naked rhizopod protozoans that have lobed and never anastomosing pseudopodia and are widely distributed in fresh and salt water and moist terrestrial environments
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