plasma

[plaz-muh] /ˈplæz mə/
noun
1.
Anatomy, Physiology. the liquid part of blood or lymph, as distinguished from the suspended elements.
2.
Cell Biology, cytoplasm.
3.
whey.
4.
a green, faintly translucent chalcedony.
5.
Physics. a highly ionized gas containing an approximately equal number of positive ions and electrons.
Also, plasm
[plaz-uh m] /ˈplæz əm/ (Show IPA), for defs 1–3.
Origin
1705-15; < Late Latin < Greek plásma something molded or formed, akin to plássein to form, mold. See plastic
Related forms
plasmatic
[plaz-mat-ik] /plæzˈmæt ɪk/ (Show IPA), plasmic, adjective
Examples from the web for plasma
  • The biggest plasma screens can rival the refrigerator as the most energy-hungry appliance in your home.
  • Then the red blood cells break loose and are carried away in the plasma.
  • Multiple myeloma is cancer of the plasma cell.
  • Ads will appear on plasma screens and ski racks.
  • Where the hero and heroine reconnect over soda cans, not plasma products.
  • To avoid higher bills, try to turn off the plasma.
  • Mr Lerner's machine is called a dense plasma focus fusion device.
  • The beam inscribes a pattern, like strap marks on a sunbather, which is then etched into the chip by a jet of plasma.
  • Once a week for 12 weeks, a patient's blood is slowly removed, the plasma separated and treated by the Prosorba machine.
  • Now to create a line of coffee tables with plasma screens imbedded.
British Dictionary definitions for plasma

plasma

/ˈplæzmə/
noun
1.
the clear yellowish fluid portion of blood or lymph in which the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are suspended
2.
short for blood plasma
3.
a former name for protoplasm, cytoplasm
4.
(physics)
  1. 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
  2. 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
Derived Forms
plasmatic (plæzˈmætɪk), plasmic, adjective
Word Origin
C18: from Late Latin: something moulded, from Greek, from plassein to mould
Word Origin and History for plasma
n.

1712, "form, shape" (earlier plasm), from Late Latin plasma, from Greek plasma "something molded or created," hence "image, figure; counterfeit, forgery; formed style, affectation," from plassein "to mold," originally "to spread thin," from PIE *plath-yein, from root *pele- (2) "flat, to spread" (see plane (n.1)). Sense of "liquid part of blood" is from 1845; that of "ionized gas" is 1928.

plasma in Medicine

plasma plas·ma (plāz'mə) or plasm (plāz'əm)
n.

  1. The clear, yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended.

  2. Cell-free, sterilized blood plasma, used in transfusions.

  3. Protoplasm or cytoplasm.

plas·mat'ic (plāz-māt'ĭk) or plas'mic (-mĭk) adj.
plasma in Science
plasma
  (plāz'mə)   

  1. See blood plasma.

  2. Protoplasm or cytoplasm.

  3. One of four main states of matter, similar to a gas, but consisting of positively charged ions with most or all of their detached electrons moving freely about. Plasmas are produced by very high temperatures, as in the Sun and other stars, and also by the ionization resulting from exposure to an electric current, as in a fluorescent light bulb or a neon sign. See more at state of matter.


plasma in Culture
plasma [(plaz-muh)]

A state of matter in which some or all of the electrons have been torn from their parent atoms. The negatively charged electrons and positively charged ions move independently.

Note: Plasmas are usually associated with very high temperatures — most of the sun is a plasma, for example.
plasma [(plaz-muh)]

The liquid part of blood or lymph. Blood plasma is mainly water; it also contains gases, nutrients, and hormones. The red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are all suspended in the plasma of the blood.

plasma in Technology

PLAnner-like System Modelled on Actors. Carl Hewitt, 1975. The first actor language. Originally called Planner-73, and implemented in MacLisp. Lisp-like syntax, but with several kinds of parentheses and brackets.
["A PLASMA Primer", B. Smith et al, AI Lab Working Paper 92, MIT Oct 1975].
["Viewing Control Structures as Patterns of Passing Messages", C. Hewitt, AI Lab Memo 410, MIT 1976].