Plasma is a state of matter where gas is so energized that its atoms break into charged particles; it also refers to the yellowish liquid part of blood that carries cells and nutrients.
From Greek 'plasma' meaning 'something molded or formed', from 'plassein' meaning 'to mold'. The physics sense was adopted in the 20th century, partly because the glowing gas seemed to 'carry' particles like blood plasma carries cells.
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