Dictionary Home »
Webster's New World College Dictionary » potential
potential
potential definition
po·ten·tial (pō ten′s̸həl, pə-)
adjective
- that has power; potent
- that can, but has not yet, come into being; possible; latent; unrealized; undeveloped
- Gram. expressing possibility, capability, power, etc. the potential mood
Etymology: ME potenciall < ML potentialis < L potentia: see potent
noun
- something potential; a potentiality
- Elec. the difference in voltage between two points in an electric circuit or field
- Gram.
- the potential mood or aspect
- a construction or form in this mood or aspect
- Physics a function whose mathematical derivative is a physical field, as a force or an electric or magnetic field
Related Forms:
- potentially po·ten′·tially adverb
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comments
Improve this definition.
Related Discussions (1)
| Topic | Replies | Latest Post |
|---|---|---|
| There's a potential war going on. | 46 | 6 years ago |
Browse dictionary definitions near potential
Share on Facebook