plasmodium noun. [plaz'mǝʊdɪǝm] Pl. -ia [-ɪǝ]. L19.
[from PLASMA- + -ODE¹ + -IUM.]
Biology.
1. A multinucleate amoeboid mass or sheet of naked protoplasm, formed by the fusion of the cytoplasm of a number of amoeboid cells, esp. as forming the vegetative stage of a slime mould. L19.

2. Any of various parasitic sporozoans of the genus Plasmodium, several of which invade human liver and blood cells and cause malaria. L19.

■ plasmodial adjective pertaining to, of the nature of, or arising from a plasmodium L19.

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