n.
Pronunciation: ' pr ō -t ə - ˌ pla-z ə m
Function: noun
Etymology: German Protoplasma, from prot- + New Latin plasma
Date: 1848
1 : the organized colloidal complex of organic and inorganic substances (as proteins and water) that constitutes the living nucleus, cytoplasm, plastids, and mitochondria of the cell
2 : CYTOPLASM
– pro · to · plas · mic \ ˌ pr ō -t ə - ' plaz-mik \ adjective