Main Entry: plas·mol·y·sis

Pronunciation: \plaz-ˈmä-lə-səs\

Function: noun

Etymology: New Latin

Date: 1883

: shrinking of the cytoplasm away from the wall of a living cell due to outward osmotic flow of water

— plas·mo·lyt·ic \ˌplaz-mə-ˈli-tik\ adjective