cytoplasm

noun

cy·​to·​plasm ˈsī-tə-ˌpla-zəm How to pronounce cytoplasm (audio)
: the organized complex of inorganic and organic substances external to the nuclear membrane of a cell and including the cytosol and membrane-bound organelles (such as mitochondria or chloroplasts) see cell illustration
cytoplasmic adjective
cytoplasmically adverb

Examples of cytoplasm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web So, the genetic information needs to get from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 But the production of proteins happens elsewhere, in the cytoplasm. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 The mRNA is copied (aka transcribed) from DNA in a cell's nucleus and then moves to the cytoplasm for its code-deciphering translation into proteins. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 2 Oct. 2023 There's an outer membrane, which contains LPS, and an inner membrane made of peptidoglycan, a large polymer that forms a rigid mesh scaffold around the bacterial cytoplasm. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 5 Jan. 2024 In order to enter human cell nuclei, any such residual viral DNA would first have to enter the cell’s main compartment, or cytoplasm, which normally keeps foreign DNA out. Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024 When an antigen attached itself to a T cell receptor, something in the signal pathway sent the component in the cytoplasm, NF-ATC, swooping down into the nucleus to join up with its counterpart, NF-ATN, and turn the gene on. Gary Taubes, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 The cytoplasm is highly compartmentalized, and there’s a great big separation between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Marina Starleaf Riker, ExpressNews.com, 29 Dec. 2020 The pump transferred protons from the cytoplasm to the compartment between the extra membrane and the chloroplast. Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 6 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cytoplasm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cytoplasm was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near cytoplasm

Cite this Entry

“Cytoplasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cytoplasm. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cytoplasm

noun
cy·​to·​plasm ˈsīt-ə-ˌplaz-əm How to pronounce cytoplasm (audio)
: the part of a cell outside the nucleus that includes a fluidlike substance and organelles (as chloroplasts and mitochondria)
cytoplasmic adjective

Medical Definition

cytoplasm

noun
cy·​to·​plasm ˈsīt-ə-ˌplaz-əm How to pronounce cytoplasm (audio)
: the organized complex of inorganic and organic substances external to the nuclear membrane of a cell and including the cytosol and membrane-bound organelles (as mitochondria or chloroplasts)
cytoplasmic adjective
cytoplasmically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on cytoplasm

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