plasm
A mold or matrix in which anything is cast or formed to a particular shapeA mold or matrix in which anything is cast or formed to a particular shape.
Meaning
3 senses(countable, uncountable)A mold or matrix in which anything is cast or formed to a particular shape.
(countable, uncountable)A membrane or cell layer, especially one in an embryo that later develops into a structure; the constituent cells of such a layer.
(archaic, countable, uncountable)Protoplasm.
the protoplasm of the germ cells that contains chromosomes and genes
Origin
From Late Latin plasma (“mold”) or Ancient Greek πλάσμα (plásma, “something formed”), in sFrom Late Latin plasma (“mold”) or Ancient Greek πλάσμα (plásma, “something formed”), in some cases via German Plasma or French plasme, like English plasma.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: plasmsSynonyms
3 synonyms- the colorless watery fluid of the blood and lymph that contains no cells, but in which the blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes) are suspended:plasmablood plasma
- the protoplasm of the germ cells that contains chromosomes and genes:germ plasm
Word family
21 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.