plasma , plasm
n
1 the clear yellowish fluid portion of blood or lymph in which the corpuscles and cells are suspended
2 short for →
blood plasma
3 a former name for →
protoplasm →
cytoplasm
a 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
b the ionized gas in an electric discharge or spark, containing positive ions and electrons and a small number of negative ions together with un-ionized material
5 a green slightly translucent variety of chalcedony, used as a gemstone
6 a less common term for →
whey
(C18: from Late Latin: something moulded, from Greek, from plassein to mould)
♦
plasmatic
♦
plasmic adj