plasma

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈplæzmə/ 🇺🇸 /ˈplæzmə/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The liquid, pale-yellow component of blood in which blood cells are suspended; it contains proteins, electrolytes, hormones, and clotting factors.; A state of matter consisting of ionized gas containing free electrons and positive ions, often considered the fourth state of matter, found in stars, lightning, and neon signs.; A green variety of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz, sometimes used as a gemstone.; The protoplasm of a cell, especially the living substance within the cell membrane.; In physics, a quasi-neutral gas of charged and neutral particles that exhibits collective behavior, often generated in laboratory settings for research or industrial applications.; Blood plasma that has been separated from whole blood and used therapeutically or for the production of plasma-derived medicinal products.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

blood plasmaplasma membraneplasma physicsplasma screenplasma TVplasma state

Derivatives

plasmaticplasmicplasmapheresisplasmatronplasmid

Synonyms

protoplasmionized gasserum

Commonly confused

serum
EN: 'Serum' is plasma with clotting factors removed; 'plasma' is the full liquid component of blood including clotting proteins.
cytoplasm
EN: 'Cytoplasm' is the gel-like substance inside a cell; 'plasma' refers to blood fluid or ionized gas.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not spell it 'plazma'—the 's' is silent in pronunciation but must be written. The plural, when rarely used in technical contexts, is 'plasmas' not 'plasmata'.

💬 Examples

  1. The patient received a plasma transfusion to replace lost clotting factors.

  2. The sun is essentially a massive ball of plasma held together by gravity.

  3. The antique brooch was set with a fine piece of plasma, its deep green color resembling emerald.

  4. Early biologists studied the plasma of cells to understand the fundamental processes of life.

  5. The researchers used a plasma etching technique to fabricate the semiconductor chips.

  6. Donors can give plasma twice a week, as the body replenishes it much faster than red blood cells.