adj 1)可能的 (possible; that may come into existence) [无comp][作attrib]： a～source of conflict/minerals 可能的冲突根源/矿物来源;the～sales of a new novel 一本新小说的可能销售量;a～best seller 一本可能畅销的书;a～leader of a political party 一个可能成为政党领导者的人;Always be on the lookout for～dangers. 要时刻对可能发生的危险保持警惕。〖同〗possible，hidden; 〖反〗actual， real; 2)潜在的 (capable of being or becoming) [无comp] [作attrib]：～wealth/resources/buyers/problems/power/success/failure 潜在的财富/资源/买主/问题/力量/成功/失败;a machine with several～uses 一台具有很多潜在用途的机器;～energy 位(势)能;〖同〗unrealized; 〖反〗actual，real;

n(1) 1)可能性 (possibility， or likelihood， of successful development) [U， a～][N(for)]： the～for error 出错的可能性;study the German market to find the～for profitable investment 研究德国市场以发现利润丰厚的投资的可能性;〖同〗possibility; 2)潜力 (qualities that exist and can be developed) [U， a～]： have acting/artistic～具有表演/艺术潜力;have/show～as an actor/an artist/a teacher/a lawyer 有/表现出成为演员/艺术家/教师/律师的潜力;exploit/fulfil/realize one's～开发/发挥/发挥潜力;a new invention with a big sales～具有很大销售潜力的新发明;a novelist with great～有很大潜力的小说家;There is good～in her work/the European markets/their suggestions. 她的工作/欧洲市场/他们的建议很有潜力。You are wasting your～on this job. 你干这件工作是浪费你的潜能。〖同〗ability，capability;

(2)(通常以电压表示的)电势(位) (degree of electricity or electrical force (usu expressed in volts)) [U]： a current of high～高压电;

→po͵tenti′ality n 潜力;po′tentially adv潜在地，有潜力地