potential /pəˈtɛnʃəl/adjective 5noun 4forms 1 adjective5 •not yet real, but possible in the futureThe heroic man,—and is not every man, God be thanked, a potential hero?—has to do so, in all times and circumstances. — 1858 •irrotationalFrom Maxwell equations (6.20) it follows that the electric field is potential: E(r) = −gradφ(r). — 1997 •irrotational (see potential flow on Wikipedia)The non-viscous flow of the vacuum should be potential (irrotational). — 2009 •Referring to a verbal construction of form stating something is possible or probable. •(no longer used) Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result noun4 •A 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. •A verbal construction or form stating something is possible or probable. formspotentials
