Ameba
/əˈmiːbə/noun
A microscopic single-celled organism that moves by extending temporary projections of its body.
Did you know?Ameba comes from Greek amoibē, meaning “change” or “exchange,” a fitting name for an organism famous for constantly reshaping itself.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
amoibē
“change, exchange, alternation”
19th Century
Latin
Amoeba
“scientific genus name for a shapeshifting microscopic organism”
19th Century
English
amoeba
“a single-celled organism with no fixed shape”
Modern English
English
ameba
“alternate English spelling of amoeba, especially in American usage”