amoeba
amoeba Lexical Profile
amoeba Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A single-celled, microscopic organism (protozoan) characterized by its lack of a definite shape and its ability to move and feed by extending temporary projections called pseudopods, commonly found in aquatic and damp environments.
"Under the microscope, the students watched the amoeba slowly change its shape to engulf a smaller particle of food."
A thing or entity that lacks a fixed structure or organization and frequently changes its form, boundaries, or strategy.
"Over the years, the massive corporation had grown into an unwieldy amoeba, constantly restructuring and haphazardly absorbing smaller startups."
• Rhymes for amoeba
Word Origin & Etymology
From Modern Latin 'amoeba', borrowed from Greek 'amoibē' meaning 'change' or 'alteration', referring to the organism's constantly shifting and unstructured physical shape.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.