latex

noun

la·​tex ˈlā-ˌteks 

plural latices ˈlā-tə-ˌsēz  ˈla-  or latexes

1

: a milky usually white fluid that is produced by cells of various seed plants (as of the milkweed, spurge, and poppy families) and is the source of rubber, gutta-percha, chicle, and balata

2

: a water emulsion of a synthetic rubber or plastic obtained by polymerization and used especially in coatings (such as paint) and adhesives

Examples of latex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, after putting on latex gloves, the doctor takes a roll of heavier-looking material that the woman in green has prepared for him by soaking it in a stainless-steel basin of water. —David Szalay, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024

Hermans also added some latex wrinkles, and Chaar airbrushed some green and textured powder spray into the wig to complete the aging effect. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024

This latex is used in many products.7 Because some foods have proteins that are similar to the proteins in rubber tree sap, people with a latex allergy may react to certain foods, including papaya. —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 21 Nov. 2024

Latex spill threatened drinking water in Philadelphia A ruptured pipe in March 2023 spilled more than 8,000 gallons of a latex chemical solution into the Delaware River, a source of drinking water for millions, upstream of Philadelphia, USA TODAY reported. —Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin latic-, latex, from Latin, fluid

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

latex

noun

la·​tex ˈlā-ˌteks 

plural latices ˈlāt-ə-ˌsēz 

ˈlat-

or latexes

1

: a milky juice produced by the cells of various plants (as milkweeds, poppies, and the rubber tree)

2

: a mixture of water and fine particles of rubber or plastic used especially in paints and adhesives

Medical Definition

latex

noun

la·​tex ˈlā-ˌteks 

plural latices ˈlāt-ə-ˌsēz  ˈlat-  or latexes

: a milky usually white fluid that is usually made up of various gum resins, fats, or waxes and often a complex mixture of other substances frequently including poisonous compounds, is produced by cells of various seed plants (as of the milkweed, spurge, and poppy families), and is the source of rubber, gutta-percha, chicle, and balata