latent
[ leyt-nt ]
/ ˈleɪt nt /
adjective
present but not visible, apparent, or actualized; existing as potential: latent ability.
Pathology.
(of an infectious agent or disease) remaining in an inactive or hidden phase; dormant.
Psychology.
existing in unconscious or dormant form but potentially able to achieve expression: a latent emotion.
Botany.
(of buds that are not externally manifest) dormant or undeveloped.
Origin of latent
SYNONYMS FOR latent
1
dormant,
quiescent,
veiled,
Latent,
potential refer to powers or possibilities existing but hidden or not yet actualized.
Latent emphasizes the hidden character or the dormancy of what is named:
latent qualities, defects, diseases. That which is
potential exists in an as yet undeveloped state, but is thought of as capable of coming into full being or activity at some future time:
potential genius, tragedy.
Potential may be applied also to tangibles:
High-tension wires are a potential source of danger.
OTHER WORDS FROM latent
la·tent·ly, adverbWords nearby latent
Example sentences from the Web for latent
British Dictionary definitions for latent
latent
/ (ˈleɪtənt) /
adjective
potential but not obvious or explicit
(of buds, spores, etc) dormant
pathol
(esp of an infectious disease) not yet revealed or manifest
(of a virus) inactive in the host cell, its nucleic acid being integrated into, and replicated with, the host cell's DNA
psychoanal
relating to that part of a dream expressive of repressed desires
latent content Compare manifest (def. 2)
Derived forms of latent
latency, noun latently, adverbWord Origin for latent
C17: from Latin
latēnt-, from
latens present participle of
latēre to lie hidden
Medical definitions for latent
latent
[ lāt′nt ]
adj.
Present or potential but not evident or active.
In a dormant or hidden stage, as an infection.
Undeveloped but capable of normal growth under the proper conditions.
Present in the unconscious mind but not consciously expressed.