plasmodium

[ plaz-moh-dee-uhm ]

noun

, plural plas·mo·di·a [plaz-, moh, -dee-, uh].

1. Biology. an ameboid, multinucleate mass or sheet of cytoplasm characteristic of some stages of organisms, as of myxomycetes or slime molds.
2. any parasitic protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, causing malaria in humans.

plasmodium

/ plæzˈməʊdɪəm /

noun

1. 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
2. any parasitic sporozoan protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, such as P. falciparum and P. vivax, which cause malaria

plasmodium

/ plăz-mō′dē-əm /

, Plural plasmodia

1. 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.
2. Any of various single-celled organisms (called protozoans) that exist as parasites in vertebrate animals, one of which causes malaria.

Derived Forms

• plasˈmodial, adjective

Other Words From

• plas·modi·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plasmodium¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1870–75; plasm-, -ode ¹, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of plasmodium¹

C19: New Latin; see plasma , -ode ¹

Example Sentences

Improved surveillance to track the spread of resistant plasmodia is critical to maintaining progress, including using molecular and genomic techniques.

From Scientific American

The pulsating blobs of Texas-backyard mystery are plasmodia — multinucleate masses that course the forest until conditions are just right for them to form the colorful fruiting bodies full of spores.

From New York Times

The study also found that Ivermectin can kill plasmodium falciparum, the malaria parasite carried by female mosquitoes, when administered to humans.

From The Guardian

Recurring malaria - caused by the parasite plasmodium vivax - is the most common type of malaria outside Sub-Saharan Africa.

From BBC

Parasites such as the four species of plasmodium that cause malaria in humans infect large populations worldwide and kill hundreds of thousands of people.

From Washington Post