plasmodesma

noun

plas·mo·des·ma ˌplaz-mə-ˈdez-mə

variants or less commonly plasmodesm

ˈplaz-mə-ˌde-zəm

plural plasmodesmata ˌplaz-mə-ˈdez-mə-tə

or plasmodesmas ˌplaz-mə-ˈdez-məz

: one of the cytoplasmic strands passing through openings in some plant cell walls and forming connections with adjacent cells

Etymology

New Latin plasmodesma, from plasma + Greek desmat-, desma bond, from dein to bind — more at diadem

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of plasmodesma was in 1905

See more words from the same year

plasmode

plasmodesma

plasmodieresis

See all Nearby Words

Style

“Plasmodesma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plasmodesma. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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