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

OpenStar successfully created its first plasma in November—at 540,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than the surface of the sun—although Mataira recognizes the technology remains young compared to competitors and still has a lot to prove. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025

According to the team, the findings from these materials offer unprecedented insights into how years of exposure to extreme plasma conditions affect reactor structures. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025

Herro received platelet-rich plasma and cortisone injections in hopes of avoiding surgery, but the discomfort never subsided and surgery was deemed necessary to avoid more issues down the road. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025

Caused by Earth's magnetic field interacting with the sun's plasma, the aurora borealis is constantly present, but not always visible to our eyes due to factors such as light pollution, the geomagnetic K-index and moon brightness. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025

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
• miasma
• histoplasma
• mycoplasma
• toxoplasma

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