Potential
/pəˈtɛnʃəl/
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.
adjective
Existing in possibility, not in actuality.
Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result
A potential field is an irrotational (static) field.
Synonyms: efficacious, influential, noumenal, spiritual, virtual