plazˈmōdēəm noun
Etymology: New Latin, from plasm- + International Scientific Vocabulary -ode + New Latin -ium
1. plural plasmo·dia -dēə
a. : a motile multinucleate mass of protoplasm resulting from fusion of uninuclear amoeboid cells ; also : an organism (as a particular stage of a slime mold) consisting of such a structure — compare coenocyte
b. : syncytium 1
2.
a. capitalized : the type genus of Plasmodiidae including all the malaria parasites affecting man
b. plural plasmodia : an individual malaria parasite