plasma
    n 1: the colorless watery fluid of the blood and lymph that
         contains no cells, but in which the blood cells
         (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes) are suspended
         [syn: plasma, plasm, blood plasma]
    2: a green slightly translucent variety of chalcedony used as a
       gemstone
    3: (physical chemistry) a fourth state of matter distinct from
       solid or liquid or gas and present in stars and fusion
       reactors; a gas becomes a plasma when it is heated until the
       atoms lose all their electrons, leaving a highly electrified
       collection of nuclei and free electrons; "particles in space
       exist in the form of a plasma"

Plasma \Plas"ma\, n. [See Plasm.]
   1. (Min.) A variety of quartz, of a color between grass green
      and leek green, which is found associated with common
      chalcedony. It was much esteemed by the ancients for
      making engraved ornaments.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Biol.) The viscous material of an animal or vegetable
      cell, out of which the various tissues are formed by a
      process of differentiation; protoplasm.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Unorganized material; elementary matter.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Med.) A mixture of starch and glycerin, used as a
      substitute for ointments. --U. S. Disp.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. same as blood plasma.
      [PJC]

   6. (physics) a state of matter in which charged particles
      such as electrons and atomi nuclei have sufficiently high
      energy to move freely, rather than be bound in atoms as in
      ordinary matter; it has some of the properties of a gas,
      but is a conductor of electricity.

   Note: In a typical plasma, the number of positive and
         negative particles are approximately equal. Plasmas are
         found naturally in the atmosphere of stars, and can be
         created in special laboratory apparatus.
         [PJC]

   Blood plasma (Physiol.), the colorless fluid of the blood,
      in which the red and white blood corpuscles are suspended.
      It may be obtained by centrifuation of blood to remove the
      blood cells. It is distinguished from serum in that
      plasma still has the fibrin of blood, and may be clotted,
      while in serum the fibrin has been removed.

   Muscle plasma (Physiol.), the fundamental part of muscle
      fibers, a thick, viscid, albuminous fluid contained within
      the sarcolemma, which on the death of the muscle
      coagulates to a semisolid mass.
      [1913 Webster +PJC] Plasmatic

PLASMA

   PLAnner-like System Modelled on Actors.  Carl Hewitt, 1975.
   The first actor language.  Originally called Planner-73, and
   implemented in MacLisp.  Lisp-like syntax, but with several
   kinds of parentheses and brackets.

   ["A PLASMA Primer", B. Smith et al, AI Lab Working Paper 92,
   MIT Oct 1975].

   ["Viewing Control Structures as Patterns of Passing Messages",
   C. Hewitt, AI Lab Memo 410, MIT 1976].