n.
Pronunciation: ' l ā - ˌ teks
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural la · ti · ces \ ' l ā -t ə - ˌ s ē z, ' la- \ 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