English Reference

Word

cytoplasm

Phoneticscy·to·plasm

US/ˈsaɪtəˌpɫæzəm/

UK/sˈaɪtəplˌæzəm/

Definition

n. the thick, jelly-like substance inside a cell that holds all the parts together. It is where most of the cell's chemical reactions happen.

n. the semifluid substance within a cell, excluding the nucleus, in which organelles are suspended. It serves as the medium for various metabolic processes and provides structural support to the cell.

Examples

“The cytoplasm fills the space inside the cell membrane.”

“During cell division, the cytoplasm divides to ensure each new daughter cell receives the necessary organelles and nutrients.”

“The cytoplasm is not a static environment; it is a dynamic matrix where the constant movement of vesicles and the cytoskeleton facilitates intracellular transport and communication.”

Examples

simple

“The cytoplasm fills the space inside the cell membrane.”

contextual

“During cell division, the cytoplasm divides to ensure each new daughter cell receives the necessary organelles and nutrients.”

complex

“The cytoplasm is not a static environment; it is a dynamic matrix where the constant movement of vesicles and the cytoskeleton facilitates intracellular transport and communication.”

Real-World Examples

“It turns out that the curl of the snail is controlled by some substance that the snail mom—a loosely used term, since snails are hermaphrodites—included in the egg’s innards, or cytoplasm.”
Smithsonian Magazine · 25 Feb 2016
“The cytoplasm is the surrounding area where many other cellular processes occur.”
ScienceDaily · 31 Aug 2026

Etymology

Borrowed from German Zytoplasma, Cytoplasma. Equivalent to cyto- (“cell”) + -plasm (“contents of a cell”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference