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

Three plasma thrusters will propel Link and Swift to a higher orbit once Katalyst confirms a firm connection. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026

As the name implies, this is a blanket of lithium alloy that lines the magnetic confinement chamber (tokamak) holding the hydrogen plasma. — David Szondy july 05, New Atlas, 5 July 2026

Octapharma and plasma Plasma — the liquid portion of blood, containing water, enzymes, proteins, electrolytes and antibodies — cannot be manufactured. — John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026

Ventiva relies on an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) system that uses a tiny plasma field to generate airflow without any moving parts. — John Burek, PC Magazine, 5 July 2026

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

Rhymes for plasma

• asthma
• chiasma
• histoplasma
• mycoplasma
• toxoplasma
• miasma

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