1. Plural of plasmodium; parasitic protozoans of the genus Plasmodium that cause malaria in humans and other animals.
Usage: biology; medicine; technical
2. Plural of plasmodium; a multinucleate mass of protoplasm characteristic of slime molds, lacking a cell wall.
Usage: biology; mycology

Examples

• Mosquitoes transmit plasmodia to humans through their bites.
• The plasmodia responsible for malaria have complex life cycles involving both insect and human hosts.
• Scientists study plasmodia to develop new antimalarial drugs.
• Under the microscope, the plasmodia of slime molds appear as gelatinous networks.
• Different species of plasmodia cause different types of malaria with varying severity.