plasmodium
[ plaz-moh-dee-uh m ]
/ plæzˈmoʊ di əm /
noun, plural plas·mo·di·a [plaz-moh-dee-uh] /plæzˈmoʊ di ə/.
Biology.
an ameboid, multinucleate mass or sheet of cytoplasm characteristic of some stages of organisms, as of myxomycetes or slime molds.
any parasitic protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, causing malaria in humans.
OTHER WORDS FROM plasmodium
plas·mo·di·al, adjectiveWords nearby plasmodium
Example sentences from the Web for plasmodia
British Dictionary definitions for plasmodia
plasmodium
/ (plæzˈməʊdɪəm) /
noun plural -dia (-dɪə)
an amoeboid mass of protoplasm, containing many nuclei: a stage in the life cycle of certain organisms, esp the nonreproductive stage of the slime moulds
any parasitic sporozoan protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, such as P. falciparum and P. vivax, which cause malaria
Derived forms of plasmodium
plasmodial, adjectiveWord Origin for plasmodium
C19: New Latin; see
plasma,
-ode
1
Medical definitions for plasmodia (1 of 2)
plasmodium
[ plăz-mō′dē-əm ]
n. pl. plas•mo•di•a (-dē-ə)
A multinucleate mass of cytoplasm formed by the aggregation of a number of amoeboid cells, as that characteristic of the vegetative phase of the slime molds.
A protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, which includes the parasites that cause malaria.
Medical definitions for plasmodia (2 of 2)
Plasmodium
n.
A genus of protozoans that are parasites of the red blood cells of vertebrates and include the causative agents of malaria.
Scientific definitions for plasmodia
plasmodium
[ plăz-mō′dē-əm ]
Plural plasmodia
A mass of protoplasm having many cell nuclei but not divided into separate cells. It is formed by the combination of many amoeba-like cells and is characteristic of the active, feeding phase of certain slime molds.
Any of various single-celled organisms (called protozoans) that exist as parasites in vertebrate animals, one of which causes malaria.