latex

play

noun la·tex \ˈlā-ˌteks\

Definition of latex

plural

latices

play \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

See latex defined for English-language learners

See latex defined for kids

Recent Examples of latex from the Web

Silicone corrodes latex and causes condoms to break.

— gigi engle, Teen Vogue, "Anal Sex: What You Need to Know," 7 July 2017
First, Madeline outlined the cuticles with liquid latex, ensuring no glitter fallout post-painting.

— emily gaynor, Teen Vogue, "Glitter Manicure With a Sponge Nail Art Tutorial," 3 July 2017
Mike Rodriguez pulls off his purple latex gloves and gets ready for the next call.

— by peter haden, miamiherald, "Delray Beach: Don’t dump your opioid addicts here," 26 June 2017
The city of Hobart accepts latex paint donations at the Department of Public Works, 340 S. Shelby St., from 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday.

— Post-Tribune, "Community calendar," 24 June 2017
But who would have thought that latex brushes would exist or that matte lipstick would be so easy to apply and so durable.

— jenna rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "YSL's Global Beauty Director Is Obsessed With This Scrub You've Never Used," 23 June 2017
Volunteers will collect latex paint from 8 a.m. to noon June 24 at New Lenox Township office building, 1100 S. Cedar Road.

— susan demar lafferty, Daily Southtown, "Job fair set for June 21 in Joliet," 15 June 2017
Beside that, directly in their walking path, her eyes picked out the yellow wad of latex.

— kate osana simonian, chicagotribune.com, "2017 Algren Award winner: "Le Problem Being" by Kate Osana Simonian," 10 June 2017
With textiles, Wang and her team found the optimal construction was a layer of latex sandwiched by two thin layers of bacterial cells, each 1 to 5 microns thick, around the diameter of a red blood cell and 1/15th the width of a human hair.

— nathan hurst, Smithsonian, "This Biofabric from MIT Uses Bacteria to Automatically Ventilate Workout Clothes," 6 June 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of latex

New Latin latic-, latex, from Latin, fluid

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1832

See Words from the same year

LATEX Defined for English Language Learners

latex

play

noun

Definition of latex for English Language Learners

: 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)

LATEX Defined for Kids

latex

play

noun la·tex \ˈlā-ˌteks\

Definition of latex for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

latex

play

noun la·tex \ˈlā-ˌteks\

Medical Definition of latex

plural

latices

\ˈlāt-ə-ˌsēz, ˈlat-\play play 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