entamoeba

noun

ent·​amoe·​ba ˌen-tə-ˈmē-bə 

: any of a genus (Entamoeba) of amoebas parasitic in vertebrates and including one (E. histolytica) that causes amebic dysentery in humans

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

entamoeba

noun

ent·​amoe·​ba

ˌent-ə-ˈmē-bə, ˈent-ə-ˌ

1

capitalized : a genus of amoeboid protozoans (order Amoebida) that are parasitic in the vertebrate digestive tract and especially in the intestines and that include the causative agent (E. histolytica) of amebic dysentery see endamoeba

2

also entameba plural entamoebas also entamebas or entamoebae also entamebae -(ˌ)bē  : any protozoan of the genus Entamoeba

entamoebic adjective

also entamebic

-bik