latex

[ ley-teks ]

noun

, plural lat·i·ces [lat, -, uh, -seez], la·tex·es.

1. a milky liquid in certain plants, as milkweeds, euphorbias, poppies, or the plants yielding India rubber, that coagulates on exposure to air.
2. Chemistry. any emulsion in water of finely divided particles of synthetic rubber or plastic.

latex

/ ˈleɪtɛks /

noun

1. a whitish milky fluid containing protein, starch, alkaloids, etc, that is produced by many plants. Latex from the rubber tree is used in the manufacture of rubber
2. a suspension of synthetic rubber or plastic in water, used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber products, etc

latex

/ lā′tĕks′ /

1. The colorless or milky sap of certain trees and plants, such as the milkweed and the rubber tree, that hardens when exposed to the air. Latex usually contains gum resins, waxes, and oils, and sometimes toxic substances.
2. A manufactured emulsion of synthetic rubber or plastic droplets in water that resembles the latex of plants. It is used in paints, adhesives, and synthetic rubber products.

Word History and Origins

Origin of latex¹

1655–65; < New Latin, special use of Latin latex water, juice, liquid

Word History and Origins

Origin of latex¹

C19: New Latin, from Latin: liquid, fluid

Example Sentences

The 41 inches of natural latex expand to more than double their length, gradually increasing tension during a stretch.

From Popular-Science

People who have mild allergies to food, pets, environment or latex can still get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

From Washington Post

The reactions may be a result of latex in the vaccine vial stopper or the Band-Aid stuck on people’s arms after the shot, he says, rather than to the vaccine itself.

From Science News

These machines sprayed tiny particles of polystyrene latex, which is commonly used to simulate respiratory droplets.

From Popular-Science

I tip and turn the mold, manipulating the latex to cover the entire inside of the mold.

From Ozy

Stacks of clean brown boxes surrounding him hold bleach, latex gloves, and masks—weapons against Ebola.

From The Daily Beast

Since waist cinchers are made from latex, they also make you sweat…a lot.

From The Daily Beast

Last year, Browne's mental asylum included pieces of latex, Joker-like make-up, and medical gloves.

From The Daily Beast

Co-host Savannah Guthrie and news reader Natalie Morales donned latex gloves in celebration of the procedure.

From The Daily Beast

Captain Horace Frank said officers are already accustomed to wearing latex gloves after an outbreak of MRSA a few years ago.

From The Daily Beast

True latex vessels occur occasionally in Agaricus, though not filled with milk as in Lactarius.

From Project Gutenberg

This is called "latex" (or milk); it is always more or less poisonous, and generally contains some sort of resinous matter.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus when the plant is scratched or pierced, a drop of this milky latex comes out and at once hardens over the wound.

From Project Gutenberg

A very extraordinary exception to the general rule that latex is highly poisonous, is found in the famous Cow Tree of Venezuela.

From Project Gutenberg

I coated the wounds with grafting-wax, latex, cellophane, asphalt and paraffine.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acrylic
• color
• cosmetic
• dye
• enamel
• makeup
• oil
• pigment
• stain
• varnish
• wax