Amoeba
/əˈmiːbə/noun
A microscopic single-celled organism that changes shape by extending temporary projections called pseudopodia.
Did you know?The name was coined in the 19th century because amoebas continually alter their form, making transformation their defining biological signature.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mei-
“To change, move, or exchange”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ameíbō (ἀμείβω)
“To change, exchange, or pass from one state to another”
Ancient Greek
Greek
amoibḗ (ἀμοιβή)
“Change, exchange, or transformation”
1822
Scientific Latin
Amoeba
“A genus name applied to shape-changing microscopic organisms”
19th Century
English
amoeba
“A microscopic organism capable of changing shape”
Modern English
English
amoeba
“A single-celled organism that moves and feeds using pseudopodia”