latex

noun

la·tex | \ ˈlā-ˌteks

plural latices\ ˈlā-tə-ˌsēz

, ˈla- \ or latexes

Definition of latex

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

Jenny Wu arranges tiny strips of dry latex pigment in undulating patterns. — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, "In the galleries: Pulsating dramas of light and sound," 12 July 2019 In the video, the star wears a red latex bodysuit while signing about defiance and determination. — Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY, "Miley Cyrus flaunts bikini body while keeping it 'casual' in tiny string swimsuit," 10 July 2019 Life spans tend to be shorter with latex mattresses, memory foam or inner spring mattresses. — NBC News, "The best Fourth of July mattress sales and how to get your money's worth," 3 July 2019 In the video, Miley is dressed in a tight blood-red latex outfit. — Jasmine Gomez, Seventeen, "10 Signs Miley Cyrus's "Mother's Daughter" Is the Ultimate Feminist Anthem," 2 July 2019 Each of the seven episodes covers a critical year for Fox News and its increasingly powerful–and paranoid–leader, played by Russell Crowe in a fat suit and pounds of latex makeup. — Judy Berman, Time, "The Loudest Voice Shows Us What We Already Knew. That’s Not Redundant—It’s Exactly What We Need," 27 June 2019 Rubber 70 years ago was mixed with the white latex sap commonly pulled from Amazonian sharinga trees. — Sarah Gibbens, National Geographic, "Before plastic, rubber filled American homes," 20 May 2019 According to Hamilton’s rule, altruism evolves when $latex r~×~B~>~C $, where B is the benefit to the recipient, r is the recipient’s relatedness to the giver, and C is the cost to the giver. — Quanta Magazine, "Viruses Have a Secret, Altruistic Social Life," 15 Apr. 2019 Finally, the tattoo artist should also wear latex gloves to prevent the spread of bacteria. — Christina Oehler, Health.com, "Can You Get a Tattoo While You’re Pregnant? We Asked a Dermatologist," 26 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'latex.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

18 Jul 2019

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Time Traveler for latex

The first known use of latex was in 1832

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More Definitions for latex

latex

noun

English Language Learners Definition of latex

: a white fluid produced by certain plants that is used for making rubber also : a similar material that is used for making various products (such as paint and glue)

See the full definition for latex in the English Language Learners Dictionary

latex

noun

la·tex | \ ˈlā-ˌteks

Kids Definition of latex

1 : a milky plant juice that is the source of rubber

2 : a mixture of water and tiny particles of rubber or plastic used especially in paints

latex

noun

la·tex | \ ˈlā-ˌteks

plural latices\ ˈlāt-ə-ˌsēz

, ˈlat-

\ or latexes

Medical Definition of latex

: 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