Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
planula
plaque
plash (1)
plash (2)
-plasia
-plasm
plasm
plasm-
plasma
plasma arc
plasma-arc machining
plasma cell
plasma membrane
plasma screen
plasma torch
plasmagel
plasmagene
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "plasma" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

plasma

plas·ma [ plázmə ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. fluid component of blood: the clear yellowish fluid component of blood, lymph, or milk, excluding the suspended corpuscles and cells

2. blood substitute: a blood substitute prepared by removing the cells and corpuscles from donated sterile blood and freezing the resulting fluid until it is needed

3. ionized gas: a hot ionized gas made up of ions and electrons that is found in the Sun, stars, and fusion reactors. Plasma is a good conductor of electricity and reacts to a magnetic field, but otherwise has properties similar to those of a gas.

4. green chalcedony: a green variety of chalcedony. Use: gems, decorative ware.

[Early 18th century. Via late Latin, "image, creation" < Greek, "something molded" < plassein "to form, mold"]

plas·mat·ic [ plaz máttik ] adjective
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft