plasma

The word “plasma” means a state of matter made of ionized gas, distinct from solid, liquid, or gas, found in stars, lightning, and neon signs. In plain terms, either the fourth state of matter (ionized gas) or the liquid component of blood.

“Plasma” is pronounced PLAZ-muh (/ˈplæzmə/ in IPA).

Here is “plasma” used in a sentence: “The sun's surface is made almost entirely of superheated plasma.”

“Plasma” is a noun.

The word “plasma” comes from Late Latin. From Greek plasma, "something molded or formed," via Late Latin.

“Plasma” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Plasma” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a state of matter made of ionized gas, distinct from solid, liquid, or gas, found in stars, lightning, and neon signs.

In physics, plasma is a state of matter made of ionized gas, found in stars, lightning, and neon signs. In biology, plasma is the pale yellow liquid part of blood that carries cells, proteins, and nutrients — the two share a name but are completely different things.

Blood plasma is the liquid portion of blood that still contains its clotting proteins, while serum is what remains after the blood has clotted and those proteins are removed. Both are pale yellow fluids, but plasma includes clotting factors and serum does not.

Plasma is often called the fourth state of matter because it is distinct from solid, liquid, and gas. It forms when a gas becomes ionized, and this ionized state makes up stars, lightning, and the glow inside neon signs.

Plasma forms when a gas is energised enough that its atoms lose electrons and become ionized, giving it electrical properties an ordinary gas lacks. So while both can flow, plasma conducts electricity and responds to magnetic fields, unlike a normal gas.