1. to cause plasmolysis in (a cell); to cause the protoplasm of a cell to shrink away from the cell wall due to loss of water in a hypertonic solution
Usage: biology; third-person singular present tense of plasmolyze

Examples

• A hypertonic salt solution plasmolyzes plant cells by drawing water out of the cytoplasm.
• When the biologist plasmolyzes the onion cells, the protoplasm visibly separates from the cell wall.
• The experiment plasmolyzes the cells to demonstrate osmotic pressure.
• Placing cells in concentrated sugar solution plasmolyzes them within minutes.
• The teacher plasmolyzes plant tissue to show students the effects of osmosis.