ˈprōd.ə, -ōtə+ˌ- noun
also pro·to·plasma “+
Etymology: German protoplasma, from prot- + -plasma -plasm (from New Latin plasma ) — more at plasma
1. : organized living matter : the more or less fluid colloidal complex of protein, other organic and inorganic substances, and water that constitutes the living nucleus, cytoplasm, plastids, and mitochondria of the cell, that is regarded as the only form of matter in which or by which the vital phenomena (as metabolism and reproduction) are manifested, that is often designated the physical basis of life, and that sometimes exhibits under the microscope a variety of appearances but typically shows a relatively fluid hyaline ground substance in which various granules and formed elements are suspended — see alveolar theory , granular hypothesis , reticular theory
2. : cytoplasm 2