-plast

American  

1. a combining form meaning “living substance,” “organelle,” “cell,” used in the formation of compound words.

   chloroplast; chromoplast; protoplast.

---

-plast British  

combining form

1. indicating an organized living cell or particle of living matter

   protoplast

---

Usage

What does -plast mean? The combining form -plast is used like a suffix meaning “living substance,” "cell," or "organelle." An organelle is "a cell organ." The form -plast is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology.The form -plast comes from the Greek plastós, meaning “formed, molded.” Find out how plastós is related to plasma, plaster, and plastic at our entry for each word.What are variants of -plast?The form -plast does not have any variants. However, it is related to the forms -plastic and -plasty, as in fibroplastic and rhinoplasty. Additional related forms include -plasia, -plasy, -and -plasm. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for these forms.

Etymology

Origin of -plast

Combining form representing Greek plastós formed, molded, equivalent to plath-, base of plássein to form, mold + -tos verbal adjective suffix, with tht > st. See plastic

Example Sentences

They had met as boys in the scouts group called Plast, in the western city of Lviv, and forged bonds over mountain hikes, sunburns, scratched knees and bug bites.

From New York Times

Police and the Public Ministry issued a joint statement saying the blast occurred at a business called Vidal Plast, rather than at a bakery as authorities had said initially.

From Washington Times

The owners of Vidal Plast could not be immediately reached for comment.

From Washington Times

Celanese has proposed selling the business to Italian engineering plastics producer Taro Plast S.p.a.

From Reuters

The first organization receiving a donation from the Jets is Plast Scouting USA, which was founded in 1911 in Ukraine and is focused on urgent needs in the country, such as first-aid kits and medical equipment and supplies.

From Seattle Times