plasmodium
noun
plas·mo·di·um
plaz-ˈmō-dē-əm 
plural plasmodia
plaz-ˈmō-dē-ə
1
a
: a motile multinucleate mass of protoplasm resulting from fusion of uninucleate amoeboid cells
also
: an organism (such as a stage of a slime mold) that consists of such a structure
2
: a sporozoan parasite (genus Plasmodium) that is the causative agent of malaria
Examples of plasmodium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is one of five species of plasmodia that cause malaria and the one that does the bulk of the damage.
—
Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024
The majority of malaria cases and fatalities are found in Africa, where plasmodium faciparum, the most dangerous and widespread malaria parasite, is common.
—Carlie Procell, USA TODAY, 12 July 2023
Malaria is transmitted through mosquitoes infected with plasmodium, a single-cell parasite.
—Clarisa Diaz, Quartz, 24 Apr. 2023
The parasitic disease is caused by protozoan plasmodium and can be transmitted through infected mosquitos.
—Natasha Dado, PEOPLE.com, 2 Dec. 2021
As a result, the team was able to obtain two nearly complete genomes and several high-quality partial genomes of the pesky plasmodium.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 20 Aug. 2018
By adding up all of these effects, the plasmodium flows in the best possible direction without a single conscious thought.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Sep. 2010
At its core, hydroxychloroquine, along with its close cousin chloroquine, is an antimalarial medication that primarily treats and prevents the mosquito-borne infection by killing the microorganism (a plasmodium parasite) that causes it.
—Popular Science, 29 May 2020
When food is nearby, the plasmodium forms a network of slender tubules that branch out in search of it, eventually finding the optimal path.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr. 2018
Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024
The majority of malaria cases and fatalities are found in Africa, where plasmodium faciparum, the most dangerous and widespread malaria parasite, is common.
—Carlie Procell, USA TODAY, 12 July 2023
Malaria is transmitted through mosquitoes infected with plasmodium, a single-cell parasite.
—Clarisa Diaz, Quartz, 24 Apr. 2023
The parasitic disease is caused by protozoan plasmodium and can be transmitted through infected mosquitos.
—Natasha Dado, PEOPLE.com, 2 Dec. 2021
As a result, the team was able to obtain two nearly complete genomes and several high-quality partial genomes of the pesky plasmodium.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 20 Aug. 2018
By adding up all of these effects, the plasmodium flows in the best possible direction without a single conscious thought.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Sep. 2010
At its core, hydroxychloroquine, along with its close cousin chloroquine, is an antimalarial medication that primarily treats and prevents the mosquito-borne infection by killing the microorganism (a plasmodium parasite) that causes it.
—Popular Science, 29 May 2020
When food is nearby, the plasmodium forms a network of slender tubules that branch out in search of it, eventually finding the optimal path.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plasmodium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near plasmodium
Cite this Entry
“Plasmodium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plasmodium. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plasmodium
noun
plas·mo·di·um
plaz-ˈmōd-ē-əm
plural plasmodia
-ē-ə
: a parasite that causes malaria
Medical Definition
plasmodium
noun
plas·mo·di·um
plaz-ˈmōd-ē-əm
1
plural plasmodia
-dē-ə
a
: a motile multinucleate mass of protoplasm resulting from fusion of uninucleate amoeboid cells
also
: an organism (as a stage of a slime mold) that consists of such a structure
2
a
capitalized
: the type genus of the family Plasmodiidae of sporozoans that includes all the malaria parasites affecting humans
b
plural plasmodia
: any individual malaria parasite
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