latex
Loading your saved state.
latex
An elastic material made from the milky sap of the rubber tree and used for products such as gloves, balloons, or clothing.
Wegen seiner Allergie muss er beim Putzen Handschuhe tragen, die kein Latex enthalten.
Because of his allergy, he has to wear gloves that do not contain latex when cleaning.
'Latex' is very often used as the first part of compound nouns to describe the material an object is made of. These words are very common in German.
Für die Renovierung brauchen wir noch einen Eimer Latexfarbe.
For the renovation, we still need a bucket of latex paint.
In connection with the material, the phrases 'eine Allergie gegen Latex haben' (to have an allergy to latex) and descriptions of products 'aus Latex' (made of latex) are very common.
Der Arzt fragte, ob ich eine Allergie gegen Latex habe.
The doctor asked whether I have an allergy to latex.
The meaning 'Pflanzensaft' (plant sap) can be recognized from the context of harvesting or extraction. Typical verbs here are 'gewinnen' (to obtain/extract), 'ernten' (to harvest), or 'zapfen' (to tap), often in connection with the rubber tree.
Die Bauern ernten den Latex in den frühen Morgenstunden.
The farmers harvest the latex in the early morning hours.
silicone
'der Latex' and 'das Silikon' can both be elastic materials and appear in everyday products or medical products. That is why they are easy to confuse. 'Latex' originally comes from the milky sap of certain plants and is used, for example, for gloves or balloons. 'Silikon' is a plastic material that is especially heat-resistant and is often used for sealing, for baking molds, or for technical parts. When it is about natural rubber or latex gloves, 'Latex' fits. When it is about joints in the bathroom, kitchen molds, or heat-resistant parts, 'Silikon' is more natural.
Wegen ihrer Allergie trägt die Ärztin keine Handschuhe aus Latex.
Because of her allergy, the doctor does not wear gloves made of latex.
Für die undichte Stelle im Bad hat der Handwerker Silikon verwendet.
The tradesman used silicone for the leaky spot in the bathroom.