Plasmolysis is the process in which cells lose water in a hypertonic solution. The reverse process, cytolysis, can occur if the cell is in a hypotonic solution resulting in a lower external osmotic pressure and a net flow of water into the cell. Through observation of plasmolysis and deplasmolysis it is possible to determine the tonicity of the ce...
The shrinking and separation of the cytoplasm from the cell wall due to exosmosis of water from the protoplast. 
<plant biology> Process by which the plant cell protoplast shrinks, so that the plasma membrane becomes partly detached from the wall. ... Occurs in solutions of high osmotic potential, due to water moving out of the protoplast by osmosis. ... (31 Dec 1997) ... 
(plaz-mol´ĭ-sis) contraction of cell protoplasm due to loss of water by osmosis. adj., plasmolyt´ic., adj.
Shrinkage of cell protoplasm away from its wall due to removal of water from its large central vacuole.Process by which the plant cell protoplast shrinks, so that the plasma membrane becomes partly detached from the wall. Occurs in solutions of high osmotic potential, due to water moving out of the protoplast by osmosis.
Type: Term Pronunciation: plaz-mol′i-sis Definitions: 1. Shrinking of plant cells by osmotic loss of cytoplasmic water. Synonyms: protoplasmolysis
the separation of the plasma membrane away from the cell wall when a cell is exposed to a hypertonic environment