plasma

UK: /ˈplæzmə/ US: /ˈplæzmə/ ,(plaz′mə)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

plas•ma /ˈplæzmə/   n. [uncountable]

1. Anatomy, Physiology, Physiology the fluid or liquid part of blood, as distinguished from the cells.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

plas•ma  (plaz′mə), n. 

1. Anatomy, Physiology, Physiology the liquid part of blood or lymph, as distinguished from the suspended elements.
2. Cell Biology cytoplasm.
3. Food whey.
4. Mineralogy, Jewelry a green, faintly translucent chalcedony.
5. Physics a highly ionized gas containing an approximately equal number of positive ions and electrons.

Also, plasm  (plaz′əm) for defs. 1–3.

• Greek plásma something molded or formed, akin to plássein to form, mold. See plastic
• Late Latin
• 1705–15;

plas•mat•ic  (plaz mat′ik), plas′mic, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

plasma / ˈplæzmə/, plasm noun

1. the clear yellowish fluid portion of blood or lymph in which the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are suspended
3. a former name for protoplasm, cytoplasm
4. a hot ionized material consisting of nuclei and electrons. It is sometimes regarded as a fourth state of matter and is the material present in the sun, most stars, and fusion reactors
5. a green slightly translucent variety of chalcedony, used as a gemstone
6. a less common term for whey

Etymology: 18th Century: from Late Latin: something moulded, from Greek, from plassein to mould

plasmatic / plæzˈmætɪk/, ˈplasmic adjective

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

plasmo-, 

1. a combining form representing plasma or cytoplasm in compound words:
   plasmolysis.

Also,[esp. before a vowel,] plasm-. 

• combining form, representing Greek plásma. See plasma, -o-