cytoplasm

noun

cy·​to·​plasm ˈsī-tə-ˌpla-zəm 

: the organized complex of inorganic and organic substances external to the nuclear membrane of a cell and including the cytosol and membrane-bound organelles (such as mitochondria or chloroplasts) see cell illustration

cytoplasmic

ˌsī-tə-ˈplaz-mik 

adjective

cytoplasmically

ˌsī-tə-ˈplaz-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of cytoplasm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When an antigen attached itself to a T cell receptor, something in the signal pathway sent the component in the cytoplasm, NF-ATC, swooping down into the nucleus to join up with its counterpart, NF-ATN, and turn the gene on. —Gary Taubes, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

The cytoplasm is highly compartmentalized, and there’s a great big separation between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. —Marina Starleaf Riker, ExpressNews.com, 29 Dec. 2020

The pump transferred protons from the cytoplasm to the compartment between the extra membrane and the chloroplast. —Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 6 July 2023

That copy is processed a bit and then makes its way to the cytoplasm as messenger RNA (mRNA). —Alla Katsnelson and Casey Rentz, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2019

Scientists had assumed that the cell’s molecular machinery carefully transported mRNA to the nucleus’s membrane and then pumped it out into the cytoplasm. —Alla Katsnelson and Casey Rentz, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2019

Unlike other DNA viruses that need to enter the nucleus to replicate, poxviruses can operate directly from the cell’s cytoplasm. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 6 June 2022

Successful embryos had an initial cytokinesis, or division of the cell’s cytoplasm, lasting between 0 and 33 minutes, a gap between first and second cell divisions lasting 7.8 – 14.3 hours, and an interval between second and third cell divisions of 0 – 5.8 hours. —Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2010

Leghemoglobin, which has a high affinity for oxygen, is able to buffer the concentration of free oxygen in the cytoplasm of the infected plant cells to ensure proper function of the oxygen-sensitive nitrogenase, the enzyme responsible for fixing atmospheric nitrogen. —Ashton Yoon, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2017

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Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cytoplasm

noun

cy·​to·​plasm ˈsīt-ə-ˌplaz-əm 

: the part of a cell outside the nucleus that includes a fluidlike substance and organelles (as chloroplasts and mitochondria)

cytoplasmic

ˌsīt-ə-ˈplaz-mik 

adjective

Medical Definition

cytoplasm

noun

cy·​to·​plasm ˈsīt-ə-ˌplaz-əm 

: the organized complex of inorganic and organic substances external to the nuclear membrane of a cell and including the cytosol and membrane-bound organelles (as mitochondria or chloroplasts)

cytoplasmic

ˌsīt-ə-ˈplaz-mik 

adjective

cytoplasmically

-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb