Main Entry: la·tex

Pronunciation: \ˈlā-ˌteks\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural la·ti·ces \ˈlā-tə-ˌsēz, ˈla-\ or la·tex·es

Etymology: New Latin latic-, latex, from Latin, fluid

Date: 1835

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 (as paint) and adhesives