plas|ma

plas|ma «PLAZ muh», noun.

1. the clear, almost colorless liquid part of blood or lymph, in which the corpuscles or blood cells float. It consists of water, salts, proteins, and other substances, and it makes up the largest part of the blood. Plasma can be kept indefinitely by freezing or drying and is often used in transfusions in place of whole blood. »

In the capillaries some of the liquid part of the blood, the plasma, oozes through the walls into the spaces surrounding the cells (Beauchamp, Mayfield, and West).

2. Physiology. the fluid contained in muscle tissue; muscle plasma.

3. the watery part of milk, as distinguished from the globules of fat.

4. Biology. protoplasm, especially the general body of protoplasm as distinct from the nucleus.

5. Physics. a highly ionized gas, consisting of almost equal numbers of free electrons and positive ions (atomic nuclei lacking their electron shells).

6. a faintly translucent, green variety of quartz, much used in ancient times for ornaments.

╂[< New Latin plasma (in Late Latin, something molded, created) < Greek plásma < plássein to form, mold]