pseudopodium

9.9

A temporary part of a single cell that sticks out to move or eat

noun
/ˌsuːdoʊˈpoʊdiəm/

Specialized

: pseudópodo

The amoeba extends a pseudopodium to move toward food.

Examples

The amoeba extends a pseudopodium to move toward its food source.
The microscope revealed the rapid retraction of a pseudopodium after contact with a barrier.
Some protozoa engulf prey by forming a pseudopodium around them.
A single-celled organism can use its pseudopodia for locomotion.
Some protozoa engulf prey by forming a pseudopodium around them.
The amoeba extends a pseudopodium to move toward its food source.
A single-celled organism can use its pseudopodium to navigate its environment.

Synonyms

pseudopod

vspseudopodium

Specialized

1 9.9

A temporary arm of a single cell used to move or take in food

is the same term but in a Latin-derived or more formal variant

Surface Forms

pseudopodium singular

pseudopodia plural

Morphology

pseudopodium = pseudopod (transparent) = pseudopod + ium

Formed from the familiar scientific term 'pseudopod' with the nominalizing technical suffix '-ium'; the meaning is directly related and predictable for learners familiar with 'pseudopod'.

Etymology

The word pseudopodium comes from the Greek parts pseudo- meaning 'false' and podium meaning 'foot', so it literally means 'false foot'. That's why it describes the temporary 'foot' a single cell makes to move or to catch food.