potential
From WikiWord, the free dictionary
/pəˈtɛnʃəl/
English
Definitions
noun
- Currently unrealized ability (with the most common adposition being to)“Even from a young age it was clear that she had the potential to become a great musician.”
- The gravitational potential: the radial (irrotational, static) component of a gravitational field, also known as the Newtonian potential or the gravitoelectric field.
- The work (energy) required to move a reference particle from a reference location to a specified location in the presence of a force field, for example to bring a unit positive electric charge from an infinite distance to a specified point against an electric field.
- (grammar) A verbal construction or form stating something is possible or probable.
adjective
- Existing in possibility, not in actuality.
- Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result
- A potential field is an irrotational (static) field.
- A potential flow is an irrotational flow.
Related words
Synonyms
noumenonspiritefficaciousinfluentialnoumenalspiritualvirtualpotentialityprospectivepossiblelikelyexpectedpotencylatentimaginableconceivablepossibilityeventuality