latex
latex Lexical Profile
latex Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A stretchy, rubber-like material made from natural or synthetic latex, commonly used to make gloves, medical supplies, and protective garments.
"Before examining the patient, the nurse snapped on a pair of disposable latex gloves."
A milky, naturally occurring fluid found in various plants and trees, particularly the rubber tree, which exudes when the plant is cut and coagulates upon exposure to air to form natural rubber.
"The workers tapped the rubber trees at dawn to collect the fresh latex."
A synthetic emulsion of polymers used to manufacture synthetic rubber, plastics, adhesives, and water-based paints.
"We chose a washable latex paint for the living room walls because it dries quickly and cleans up easily with water."
Word Origin & Etymology
From Latin 'latex', meaning 'fluid', 'liquid', or 'water'. It was first used in English in the mid-19th century in a botanical context to describe the milky sap of plants.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.