plasmodium

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plas·mo·di·um / plazˈmōdēəm/ • n. (pl. plasmodia / plazˈmōdēə/ ) 1. a parasitic protozoan of a genus (Plasmodium) that includes those causing malaria. 2. Biol. a form within the life cycle of some simple organisms such as slime molds, typically consisting of a mass of naked protoplasm containing many nuclei.DERIVATIVES: plas·mo·di·al / -mōdēəl/ adj.

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