po|ten|tial

po|ten|tial
po|ten|tial «puh TEHN shuhl», adjective, noun.
–adj.
1. possible as opposed to actual; capable of coming into being or action: »

There is a potential danger of being bitten when one plays with a strange dog. The potential efficiency of modern chemical weapons is generally comparable to that of atomic weapons (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists).

2. Grammar. expressing possibility, as by the use of may, might, can, and could:»

the potential subjunctive or potential mood of a verb.

3. Physics. existing in a positional form, not as motion.
4. having to do with voltage.
–n.
1. something potential; possibility: »

Many markets of massive potential await American wares abroad (Wall Street Journal).

 SYNONYM(S): See syn. under latent. (Cf. ↑latent)
2. Grammar. a) the potential subjunctive or potential mood. b) a verb form or verbal phrase used thus.
3. the amount of electrification of a point with reference to some standard; electromotive force expressed in volts. A current of high potential is used in transmitting electric power over long distances. »

When the ends of a wire are connected to two points…such as the terminals of a cell or generator, there will be a current in the wire but the potential of each point of the wire remains constant in time (Sears and Zemansky).

4. Physics. a function or quantity that expresses force, such as electromotive force.
╂[< Late Latin potentiālis < Latin potentia potency < potēns potent]
–po|ten´tial|ly, adverb.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • po|ten´tial|ly — po|ten|tial «puh TEHN shuhl», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. possible as opposed to actual; capable of coming into being or action: »There is a potential danger of being bitten when one plays with a strange dog. The potential efficiency of modern… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sen|ten|tial — «sehn TEHN shuhl», adjective. 1. having to do with or of the nature of a judicial sentence or decree. 2. having to do with a grammatical sentence …   Useful english dictionary

  • pen´i|ten´tial|ly — pen|i|ten|tial «PEHN uh TEHN shuhl», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. of, showing, or having to do with penitence: »The penitential psalms express remorse for sin. Mr. Benson, on penitential knee, bent to recover her scattered property (John Stephen… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pen|i|ten|tial — «PEHN uh TEHN shuhl», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. of, showing, or having to do with penitence: »The penitential psalms express remorse for sin. Mr. Benson, on penitential knee, bent to recover her scattered property (John Stephen Strange). 2. of or …   Useful english dictionary

  • e|qui|po|ten|tial — «EE kwuh puh TEHN shuhl», adjective. 1. Physics. possessing the same or equal potential: »The potential distribution in an electric field may be represented graphically by equipotential surfaces (Sears and Zemansky). 2. Obsolete. of equal power… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ex|is|ten|tial|ism — «EHG zihs TEHN shuh lihz uhm, EHK sihs », noun. a philosophy holding that reality consists of living and that man makes himself what he is and is responsible personally only to himself for what he makes himself. Modern existentialism was… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ex|is|ten|tial|is|tic — «EHG zihs TEHN shuh LIHS tihk, EHK sihs », adjective. = existential (def. 1). (Cf. ↑existential) …   Useful english dictionary

  • ex|is|ten|tial|ist — «EHG zihs TEHN shuh lihst, EHK sihs », adjective, noun. –adj. 1. having to do with existentialism: »His somber estimate of the human condition has led him not to existentialist nausea but to melancholy compassion (Atlantic). 2. like… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ex|is|ten|tial|ly — «EHG zihs TEHN shuh lee, EHK sihs », adverb. in an existential manner …   Useful english dictionary

  • ex|is|ten|tial — «EHG zihs TEHN shuhl, EHK sihs », adjective. 1. of or having to do with existentialism: »an existential novel, an existential point of view. 2. of or having to do with existence …   Useful english dictionary

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