A cell that moves and changes shape like an amoeba, especially certain white blood cells or immune cells in the body.
From amoeba (Greek amoibe, 'change') + -cyte (Greek kytos, 'cell'). Coined in early 20th-century biology to describe mobile cells that defend the body.
Your white blood cells are actually amoebocytes—they squeeze through tiny spaces, surround invaders, and change shape constantly as they hunt down bacteria in your body, making them some of nature's most dedicated cleanup crew members.
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