What does "latex" mean?
A clear liquid believed to be a component of a humour or other bodily fluid (esp. plasma and lymph).
Latex
/ˈleɪtɛks/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A clear liquid believed to be a component of a humour or other bodily fluid (esp. plasma and lymph).
- Grammar: latex is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: beverage, blood, caoutchouc, document preparation system.
- Useful contrasts: WYSIWYG editor, non LaTeX, nonlatex.
- Usage evidence: Tom put on a pair of latex gloves.
How to use "latex"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "latex" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "latex" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "latex" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "latex" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "latex" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "beverage" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "latex", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A clear liquid believed to be a component of a humour or other bodily fluid (esp. plasma and lymph). archaic, countable, rare, uncountable
- 2 a water-base paint that has a latex binder wordnet
- 3 The milky sap of several trees that coagulates on exposure to air; used to make rubber. countable, uncountable
- 4 a milky exudate from certain plants that coagulates on exposure to air wordnet
- 5 An emulsion of rubber in water, used in adhesives and the like. countable, uncountable
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Natural latex rubber, especially nonvulcanized rubber, such as is used in making latex gloves, latex condoms, and latex clothing. countable, uncountable
Proper Noun
- 1 A digital typesetting system for mathematical and scientific formulae layout, based on TeX; often stylized as LaTeX.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Tom put on a pair of latex gloves."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "latex"?
Common synonyms include: beverage, blood, caoutchouc, document preparation system, drink, emulsion polymer.
How do you use "latex" in a sentence?
Tom put on a pair of latex gloves.
How do you pronounce "latex"?
Pronounced /ˈleɪtɛks/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from New Latin latex (“clear fluid which is part of a humour or bodily fluid”), a later use of Latin latex (“water; liquid, fluid”). Potentially a borrowing from Ancient Greek λᾰ́τᾰξ (lắtăx, “drop of wine”), reformed by analogy to other nouns in -ex. The semantic shift, however, from drop of wine to water is difficult to explain and may indicate that both words originated from a separate language. Perhaps from the same root as Proto-Celtic *latis (Old Irish laith (“liquid, beer”), Welsh llad (“beer”)) or Proto-Germanic *ladjō- (Old High German letto (“clay, loam”), Old Norse leðja (“mud, dregs”)) or from a Pre-Greek language.
Etymology 2
Usually thought to be a blend of Lamport + TeX, the former being the surname of its creator, Leslie Lamport.