acanthamoeba

A1C3A1N1T1H4A1M3O1E1B3A1
UK/əˌkæn.θəˈmiː.bə/US/əˌkæn.θəˈmi.bə/

noun

Any amoeba of the genus Acanthamoeba, found chiefly in soil.

UncommonFirst used First attested in the mid 20th century.Scrabble 21
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Meanings

nounacanthamoeba (plural acanthamoebae)

plural acanthamoebae

  1. Any amoeba of the genus Acanthamoeba, found chiefly in soil.First known use First attested in the mid 20th century.

    They have also advised people to throw out their current contact lenses and the lens storage cases because they may harbor the acanthamoeba parasite.

    2007 May 28, Lawrence K. Altman, “Outbreak of Eye Infections Puzzles Officials”, in New York Times

Origin

From acanth- (“thorny”) + amoeba.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese acantameba
  • acantamebaany amoeba of the genus Acanthamoeba

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with acanthamoeba

amoeba
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

acanthamoeba. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acanthamoeba

MLA

“acanthamoeba.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acanthamoeba. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “acanthamoeba,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acanthamoeba.

Source: acanthamoeba on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.