cytoplasm

noun

cy·​to·​plasm ˈsī-tə-ˌpla-zəm How to pronounce cytoplasm (audio)
: 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 adjective
cytoplasmically 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 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cytoplasm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cytoplasm was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near cytoplasm

Cite this Entry

“Cytoplasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cytoplasm. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

cytoplasm

noun
cy·​to·​plasm ˈsīt-ə-ˌplaz-əm How to pronounce cytoplasm (audio)
: the part of a cell outside the nucleus that includes a fluidlike substance and organelles (as chloroplasts and mitochondria)
cytoplasmic adjective

Medical Definition

cytoplasm

noun
cy·​to·​plasm ˈsīt-ə-ˌplaz-əm How to pronounce cytoplasm (audio)
: 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 adjective
cytoplasmically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on cytoplasm

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