plasma

noun

plas·​ma ˈplaz-mə 

1

: a green faintly translucent quartz

2

[New Latin, from Late Latin]

a

: the fluid part of blood, lymph, or milk as distinguished from suspended material

especially : blood plasma

b

: the juice that can be expressed from muscle

3

: protoplasm

4

: a collection of charged particles (as in the atmospheres of stars or in a metal) containing about equal numbers of positive ions and electrons and exhibiting some properties of a gas but differing from a gas in being a good conductor of electricity and in being affected by a magnetic field

5

: a display (such as a television screen) consisting of discrete cells of plasma sandwiched between two layers of glass and electrodes such that each cell emits light when it receives an electric current

plasmatic

plaz-ˈma-tik 

adjective

Examples of plasma in a Sentence

the plasma that makes up a star

Our new TV is a 50-inch plasma.

Recent Examples on the Web

For instance, plasma exchange (also called plasmapheresis) is used to treat some blood disorders and autoimmune conditions. —Dana G. Smith, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025

Anstead gave a peek into his holiday festivities in December 2024 by sharing a carousel on Instagram of Hudson playing with a new plasma ball lamp. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025

In that short time frame, a fluid called the quark-gluon plasma shows up, and all the quarks and gluons talk to each other. —Henry Carnell, Quanta Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025

The Dutch company uses a complex process that starts with kilowatt-class lasers to blasting molten droplets of tin into a plasma that glows with a 13.5 nanometer wavelength . —IEEE Spectrum, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

German, from Late Latin, something molded, from Greek, from plassein to mold — more at plaster

First Known Use

1517, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plasma

• blood plasma
• convalescent plasma
• plasma cell
• plasma jet
• plasma membrane
• plasma torch

Kids Definition

plasma

noun

plas·​ma ˈplaz-mə 

1

: the watery part of blood, lymph, or milk

2

: a collection of charged particles that shows some characteristics of a gas but that differs from a gas in being a good conductor of electricity and in being affected by a magnetic field

Medical Definition

plasma

noun

plas·​ma ˈplaz-mə 

1

a

: the fluid part especially of blood, lymph, or milk that is distinguished from suspended material see blood plasma

b

: the juice that can be expressed from muscle

2

: protoplasm

3

: a mixture of starch and gel used as an ointment base