Commentary: POTENTIAL[+event][+possible]
NOTE: refers to a possible state of affairs that could happen in the future
NOTE: occurs in phrases 'potential for X' where X is a possible, observable future event
Examples:
A stop sign could reduce the potential for accidents at that busy street corner.
The director has been trying to identify and address all potential problems before the planetary launch.
Betty argued that there is some potential for peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The analysts now consider his potential for winning the next election to be low.
Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2
Commentary: POTENTIAL[+quality][+capability][+latent]
NOTE: does not refer to a possible future -event- (Sense 1) , but a development of inherent ability, quality.
NOTE: occurs in phrases 'X's potential' where X possesses an inherent quality
Examples:
The review says that the 24-year-old Australian shows great potential as a major dramatic soprano.
Unfortunately, the potentials of the technology were never wholly realized.
He saw the young entrepreneur's potential where others only saw failure.
Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 1
Commentary: POTENTIAL[+quantity][+function][+work][+field][+electrical/+gravitational]
Examples:
There is an electric potential at every point in space.
Electric potential is work per unit charge.
A book lying on a table has greater gravitational potential than a book lying on the floor.
Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2