plasma

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: plas=ma

CIDE DICTIONARY

plasma, n. [See Plasm.].

•  A variety of quartz, of a color between grass green and leek green, which is found associated with common chalcedony. It was much esteemed by the ancients for making engraved ornaments.  [1913 Webster]
•  The viscous material of an animal or vegetable cell, out of which the various tissues are formed by a process of differentiation; protoplasm.  [1913 Webster]
•  Unorganized material; elementary matter.  [1913 Webster]
•  A mixture of starch and glycerin, used as a substitute for ointments.  U. S. Disp.  [1913 Webster]
•  same as blood plasma.  [PJC]
•  a state of matter in which charged particles such as electrons and atomi nuclei have sufficiently high energy to move freely, rather than be bound in atoms as in ordinary matter; it has some of the properties of a gas, but is a conductor of electricity.

  "In a typical plasma, the number of positive and negative particles are approximately equal. Plasmas are found naturally in the atmosphere of stars, and can be created in special laboratory apparatus."  [PJC]

Blood plasma (Physiol.), the colorless fluid of the blood, in which the red and white blood corpuscles are suspended. It may be obtained by centrifuation of blood to remove the blood cells. It is distinguished from serum in that plasma still has the fibrin of blood, and may be clotted, while in serum the fibrin has been removed. -- Muscle plasma (Physiol.), the fundamental part of muscle fibers, a thick, viscid, albuminous fluid contained within the sarcolemma, which on the death of the muscle coagulates to a semisolid mass.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

plasma, n. (also plasm)
1 the colourless fluid part of blood, lymph, or milk, in which corpuscles or fat-globules are suspended.
2 = PROTOPLASM.
3 a gas of positive ions and free electrons with an approximately equal positive and negative charge.
4 a green variety of quartz used in mosaic and for other decorative purposes.

Derivative

plasmatic adj. plasmic adj.

Etymology

LL, = mould f. Gk plasma -atos f. plasso to shape

THESAURUS

plasma

Rh factor, Rh-negative, Rh-positive, Rh-type, Rhesus factor, antibody, antigen, arterial blood, blood, blood bank, blood cell, blood count, blood donor, blood donor center, blood group, blood grouping, blood picture, blood platelet, blood pressure, blood serum, blood substitute, bloodmobile, bloodstream, circulation, clinical dextran, dextran, erythrocyte, globulin, gore, grume, hematics, hematologist, hematology, hematoscope, hematoscopy, hemocyte, hemoglobin, hemometer, humor, ichor, isoantibody, leukocyte, lifeblood, neutrophil, opsonin, phagocyte, plasma substitute, red corpuscle, serum, type O, venous blood, white corpuscle

ROGET THESAURUS

plasma

Jewelry

N jewel, jewelry, jewellery, bijoutry, bijou, bijouterie, trinket, fine jewelry, costume jewelry, junk jewelry, gem, gemstone, precious stone, necklace, bracelet, anklet, earring, locket, pendant, charm bracelet, ring, pinky ring, carcanet, chain, chatelaine, broach, pin, lapel pin, torque, diamond, brilliant, rock, beryl, emerald, chalcedony, agate, heliotrope, girasol, girasole, onyx, plasma, sard, sardonyx, garnet, lapis lazuli, opal, peridot, tourmaline, chrysolite, sapphire, ruby, synthetic ruby, spinel, spinelle, balais, oriental, oriental topaz, turquois, turquoise, zircon, cubic zirconia, jacinth, hyacinth, carbuncle, amethyst, alexandrite, cat's eye, bloodstone, hematite, jasper, moonstone, sunstone, pearl, cultured pearl, fresh-water pearl, mother of pearl, coral, jeweler, gemologist, minerologist, lapidary, lapidarian, gemology, gemmology, minerology, bejeweled, diamond, (gemstones), gemological.