pseudopod
Amoeba's grasping limb
A pseudopod is a temporary projection of cytoplasm that certain single-celled organisms extend to move or capture food.
Amoebas are the classic example—they flow into their pseudopods rather than walking on legs.
The term literally means "false foot." In science fiction and horror, pseudopods describe any temporary limb-like extension: The creature reached out with glistening pseudopods.
One cell only
- protozoanUnicellular eukaryotic life form
- amoebaShape-shifting single-celled organism
- protistUnicellular eukaryotic organism
- microorganismMicroscopic living entity
paramecium · entamoeba · cyst
Something that extends outward
- protrusionPart extending outward
- extensionAdded part or duration
- outgrowthSomething developing from another
- cytoplasmGel surrounding the nucleus
ectoplasm · endoplasm · cytoskeleton · bulge · extrusion · morphology · membrane
Cellular ingestion of particles
- engulfmentComplete surrounding and absorption
- ingestionConsuming into the body
- captureTake into custody
- encapsulationSurrounding on all sides
vacuole · endocytosis · prey · absorption · bacteria · encircling · surrounding
Moving on hands, knees
- glidingEngineless aerial movement
- creepingMoving slowly, stealthily
- motilitySelf-generated movement capacity
- undulatingMoving in waves
oozing · streaming · flowing · translocation · advancing · inching · migration · chemotaxis
Able to bend freely
- pliableCapable of bending easily
- temporaryLimited in duration
- retractableAble to draw inward
- dynamicActive and changing
amorphous · shapeshifting · extensible · contractile · transient · reversible · elastic · adaptable
Basic unit of life
- organelleSubcellular functional unit
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- microbiologyStudy of microscopic life
phagocyte · macrophage · leukocyte · neutrophil · cellular · microscopic
unicellular
One cell only
- protozoanUnicellular eukaryotic life form
- amoebaShape-shifting single-celled organism
- protistUnicellular eukaryotic organism
microorganism · paramecium · entamoeba · cyst
projection
Something that extends outward
- protrusionPart extending outward
- extensionAdded part or duration
- outgrowthSomething developing from another
cytoplasm · ectoplasm · endoplasm · cytoskeleton · bulge · extrusion · morphology · membrane
phagocytosis
Cellular ingestion of particles
- engulfmentComplete surrounding and absorption
- ingestionConsuming into the body
- captureTake into custody
encapsulation · vacuole · endocytosis · prey · absorption · bacteria · encircling · surrounding
crawling
Moving on hands, knees
- glidingEngineless aerial movement
- creepingMoving slowly, stealthily
- motilitySelf-generated movement capacity
undulating · oozing · streaming · flowing · translocation · advancing · inching · migration · chemotaxis · traction
flexible
Able to bend freely
- pliableCapable of bending easily
- temporaryLimited in duration
- retractableAble to draw inward
dynamic · amorphous · shapeshifting · extensible · contractile · transient · reversible · elastic · adaptable
cell
Basic unit of life
- organelleSubcellular functional unit
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
microbiology · phagocyte · macrophage · leukocyte · neutrophil · cellular · microscopic
- animal partsappendage, forelimb, hind leg, hind legs, hindlegs
- amoebasamoeba, brain-eating amoeba, Chaos
- cell projectionscilia, cilium, flagella, flagellum, microvilli
- microbe partscytoplasm, nucleus, cell membrane, flagellum, flagella
- body partsarm, leg, hand, back, chest
- animal feetpaw, paws, claws, claw, hoof