n. (pl. plasmodia)
1. any parasitic protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, including those causing malaria in man.
2 a form within the life cycle of various micro-organisms including slime moulds, usu. consisting of a mass of naked protoplasm containing many nuclei.
Derivatives:
plasmodial adj.
Etymology: mod.L f. PLASMA(1) + - odium: see -ODE(1)