Definition

1. Noun:
   • The outer granule-free layer of cytoplasm: In biology, "ectoplasm" refers to the clear, gel-like outer region of a cell's cytoplasm, distinct from the inner, more granular endoplasm.
   • A supposed spiritual substance: In spiritualism and paranormal contexts, "ectoplasm" denotes a substance or viscous energy that is said to emanate from the body of a spiritual medium during a séance or trance state.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Biology):
  • The amoeba's ectoplasm is a clear, viscous layer surrounding its more fluid interior.
  • Scientists observed the movement within the cell's ectoplasm.
• Noun (Spiritualism):
  • The medium claimed the strange, misty ectoplasm was a manifestation of a spirit.
  • Early 20th-century photographs allegedly showing ectoplasm are now considered hoaxes.

Advanced Usage

• "to produce ectoplasm": In spiritualism, for a medium to generate the supposed substance.
  • The séance participants hoped the medium would produce ectoplasm as evidence of contact.

Variants and Related Words

• Ectoplasmic (adjective): Pertaining to or resembling ectoplasm.
  • They described an ectoplasmic mist in the room.
• Endoplasm (noun): The inner, granular part of the cytoplasm, often contrasted with ectoplasm.

Synonyms

• Outer cytoplasm (for the biological sense).
• Emanation, psychic residue (for the spiritualist sense; these are conceptual synonyms, not exact).

Related Phrases

• Ectoplasmic materialization: A term in spiritualism for when ectoplasm is said to form into shapes or figures.
  • The book detailed cases of ectoplasmic materialization.

Noun

1. the outer granule-free layer of cytoplasm
2. (spiritualism) a substance supposed to emanate from the body of the medium during a trance