n.
Pronunciation: ' pr ō -t ə - ˌ plast
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French protoplaste, from Late Latin protoplastus first human, from Greek pr ō toplastos first formed, from pr ō t- prot- + plastos formed, from plassein to mold ― more at PLASTER
Date: 1532
1 : one that is formed first : PROTOTYPE
2 : a plant cell that has had its cell wall removed also : the nucleus, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane of a cell as distinguished from inert walls and inclusions