potential

Meanings

Noun

• Currently unrealized ability (with the most common adposition being to)
• 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.
• 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.
• Referring to a verbal construction of form stating something is possible or probable.

Related

Similar words

• noumenon
• spirit

Opposite words

• matter
• phenomenon

Origin

• From Late Latin potentialis, from Latin potentia ("power"), from potens; synchronically analysable as potent + -ial.