I. ˈlāˌteks noun
( plural lat·i·ces ˈlad.əˌsēz, ˈlād.- ; or latexes )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: New Latin latic-, latex, from Latin, fluid, probably from Greek latag-, latax last remnant of a cup of wine; akin to Old High German letto clay, Old Norse lethja mud, Welsh llaid
1. : a milky usually white fluid of variable composition that is usually made up of various gum resins, fats, or waxes and often a complex mixture of other substances frequently including poisonous compounds, that is found in or produced by cells of plants especially of the Asclepiadaceae but also of the Apocynaceae, Sapotaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Papaveraceae, Moraceae, and Compositae, and that yields rubber, gutta-percha, chicle, and balata as its chief commercial products
latex pillows
latex foundation garments
— see rubber
2. : any of various emulsions in water of a synthetic rubber or plastic obtained by polymerization and used chiefly in paint and other coatings (as for paper) and adhesives
GR-S latex
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
: to treat (as a textile material) with a latex