plasmodium
[plaz-moh-dee-uh m]
- 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.
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Origin of plasmodium
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for plasmodium
Historical Examples
One parasitic protozoan like an amœba is called Plasmodium malari.
A Civic BiologyGeorge William Hunter
There we know that it acts by killing the plasmodium and is a real specific.
PsychotherapyJames J. Walsh
The plasmodium in this case chances to be red, scarlet, etc.
The North American Slime-MouldsThomas H. (Thomas Huston) MacBride
The plasmodium just before the formation of the fruit is scarlet.
The North American Slime-MouldsThomas H. (Thomas Huston) MacBride
Plasmodium at first white, then pink, 'ashes of roses,' etc.
The North American Slime-MouldsThomas H. (Thomas Huston) MacBride
plasmodium
- 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
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Word Origin
C19: New Latin; see plasma, -ode 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for plasmodium
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
plasmodium
(plăz-mō′dē-əm)- 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.
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Plasmodium
- A genus of protozoans that are parasites of the red blood cells of vertebrates and include the causative agents of malaria.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
plasmodium
[plăz-mō′dē-əm]
- 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.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.