Amoebicidal

/əˌmiːbɪˈsaɪdəl/ adjective

Definition

Describing a substance or treatment that kills or destroys amoebas.

Etymology

From 'amoeba' plus Latin 'caedere' (to kill) plus '-al' (adjectival suffix). The '-cidal' suffix is used to describe things that kill, as in 'germicidal' or 'fungicidal'.

Kelly Says

Many amoebicidal drugs work by disrupting the amoeba's cell membrane or interfering with its metabolism—essentially poisoning the organism in ways that harm it more than our own cells, which is the whole point of medicine.

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