Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Latent
La′tent
(lā′tent)
, Adj.
[L.
latens
, -entis
, p. pr. of latere
to lie hid or concealed; cf. Gr. λανθάνειν
, E. lethargy
: cf. F. latent
.] 1.
Not visible or apparent; hidden; concealed; secret; dormant;
as,
. latent
springs of actionThe evils
latent
in the most promising contrivances are provided for as they arise. Burke.
Latent buds
(Bot.)
, buds which remain undeveloped or dormant for a long time, but may eventually grow.
Latent heat
(Physics)
, that quantity of heat which disappears or becomes concealed in a body while producing some change in it other than rise of temperature, as fusion, evaporation, or expansion, the quantity being constant for each particular body and for each species of change; the amount of heat required to produce a change of phase.
– Latent period
. (a)
(Med.)
The regular time in which a disease is supposed to be existing without manifesting itself.
(b)
(Physiol.)
One of the phases in a simple muscular contraction, in which invisible preparatory changes are taking place in the nerve and muscle.
(c)
(Biol.)
One of those periods or resting stages in the development of the ovum, in which development is arrested prior to renewed activity.
Webster 1828 Edition
Latent
LA'TENT
,Adj.
Hid; concealed; secret; not seen; not visible or apparent. We speak of latent motives; latent reasons; latent springs of action.
Latent heat, is heat in combination, in distinction from sensible heat; the portion of heat which disappears, when a body changes its form from the solid to the fluid, or from the fluid to the aeriform state.