Plash, plash, v.t. to bind and interweave the branches of.—v.i. to bend down a branch.—n. a small branch of a tree partly cut and bound to or twisted among other branches.—n. Plash′ing, a mode of repairing a hedge by bending the branches and twisting them about each other. [O. Fr. plassier—L. plexus—plectĕre, to twist.]
Plash, plash, n. a dash of water: a puddle: a shallow pool: a splashing sound: a sudden downpour: a flash.—v.i. to dabble in water: to splash.—v.t. to sprinkle with colouring matter, as a wall.—adj. Plash′y, full of puddles: watery. [Imit.]
Plasm, plazm, n. a mould or matrix: protoplasm—also Plas′ma.—adjs. Plasmat′ic, -al, plastic, formative; Plas′mic, pertaining to plasma, protoplasmic.—ns. Plasmō′dium, composite masses of primitive protozoa, in which numerous units are fused, or in rare cases simply combined in close contact; Plas′mogen, true protoplasm; Plasmog′ony, the generation of an organism from plasma; Plasmol′ogy, minute or microscopic anatomy, histology.—v.t. Plas′molyse.—n. Plasmol′ysis, the contraction of the protoplasm in active cells under the action of certain reagents.—adj. Plasmolyt′ic.
Plasma, plas′ma, n. a green variety of translucent quartz or silica.—adj. Plas′mic. [Gr.,—plassein, to form.]
Plaster, plas′tėr, n. something that can be moulded into figures: a composition of lime, water, and sand for overlaying walls, &c.: (med.) a medicinal agent consisting of an adhesive substance spread upon cloth or leather, so as to stick to the part of the body to which it is applied.—adj. made of plaster.—v.t. to cover with plaster: to cover with a plaster, as a wound: to besmear: (fig.) to smooth over.—ns. Plas′terer, one who plasters, or one who works in plaster; Plas′tering, the art of covering the internal faces of walls, the partitions and ceiling of a building, with plaster: a covering of plaster: the plasterwork of a building; Plas′ter-stone, gypsum.—adj. Plas′tery, like plaster, containing plaster.—Plaster cast, a copy of an object got by pouring a mixture of plaster of Paris and water into a mould formed from the object; Plaster of Paris, a kind of gypsum, originally found near Paris, used in building and in making casts of figures; Porous plaster, a plaster for application to the body, full of small holes, which prevent it from wrinkling. [A.S. plaster—O. Fr. emplastre—L. emplastrum—Gr. emplastron.]
Plastic, plas′tik, adj. having power to give form to: capable of being moulded: of or pertaining to moulding.—ns. Plastic′ity, state or quality of being plastic; Plastilī′na, a modelling clay which remains soft and plastic for a considerable time; Plastog′raphy, imitation of handwriting. [Gr. plastikos—plassein, to mould.]
Plastron, plas′tron, n. a breast-plate: a detachable part of a woman's dress hanging from the throat to the waist: a man's shirt-bosom: a fencer's wadded shield of leather worn on the breast: the ventral part of the shell of a chelonian or testudinate, the lower shell of a turtle or tortoise: the sternum with costal cartilages attached.—adj. Plas′tral.
Plat, plat, v.t. Same as Plait.
Plat, plat, n. a piece of ground: a piece of ground ornamentally laid out: (obs.) a plan, scheme.—v.t. to make a map or plan of.—n. Plat′-band, a border of flowers in a garden: (archit.) a slightly projecting square moulding, an architrave fascia, a list between flutings. [Plot.]
Platane, plat′ān, n. the plane-tree.—Also Plat′an. [L. platanus—Gr. platanos—platys, broad.]