plasmolysis

American  

[plaz-mol-uh-sis] / plæzˈmɒl ə sɪs /

noun

Botany.

1. contraction of the protoplasm in a living cell when water is removed by exosmosis.

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plasmolysis British  

/ ˌplæzməˈlɪtɪk, plæzˈmɒlɪsɪs /

noun

1. the shrinkage of protoplasm away from the cell walls that occurs as a result of excessive water loss, esp in plant cells See exosmosis

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plasmolysis Scientific  

/ plăz-mŏl′ĭ-sĭs /

plasmolyses plural

1. Shrinkage or contraction of the protoplasm away from the wall of a living plant or bacterial cell, caused by loss of water through osmosis. It results in loss of turgor and, in plants, wilting of the stems and leaves. If too severe, it can be fatal to the cell.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• plasmolytically
  adverb
• plasmolytic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of plasmolysis

First recorded in 1880–85; plasmo- + -lysis