[la.tex] n, pl la.ti.ces or la.tex.es [NL latic-, latex, fr. L, fluid] (1835) 1: a milky usu. 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 esp. in coatings (as paint) and adhesives