plasmodesma

noun

plas·​mo·​des·​ma ˌplaz-mə-ˈdez-mə 

variants or less commonly plasmodesm

ˈplaz-mə-ˌde-zəm 

plural plasmodesmata ˌplaz-mə-ˈdez-mə-tə  or plasmodesmas ˌplaz-mə-ˈdez-məz 

: one of the cytoplasmic strands passing through openings in some plant cell walls and forming connections with adjacent cells

Word History

Etymology

New Latin plasmodesma, from plasma + Greek desmat-, desma bond, from dein to bind — more at diadem

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above