Latent
[leyt-nt] /ˈleɪt nt/
adjective
1.
present but not visible, apparent, or actualized; existing as potential:
latent ability.
2.
Pathology. (of an infectious agent or disease) remaining in an inactive or hidden phase; dormant.
3.
Psychology. existing in unconscious or dormant form but potentially able to achieve expression:
a latent emotion.
4.
Botany. (of buds that are not externally manifest) dormant or undeveloped.
/ˈleɪtənt/
adjective
1.
potential but not obvious or explicit
2.
(of buds, spores, etc) dormant
3.
(pathol) (esp of an infectious disease) not yet revealed or manifest
4.
(of a virus) inactive in the host cell, its nucleic acid being integrated into, and replicated with, the host cell’s DNA
5.
(psychoanal) relating to that part of a dream expressive of repressed desires: latent content Compare manifest (sense 2)
adj.
mid-15c., “concealed, secret,” from Latin latentem (nominative latens) “lying hid, secret, unknown,” present participle of latere “to lie hidden,” from PIE *laidh-, from root *la- “to be hidden” (cf. Greek lethe “forgetfulness, oblivion,” Old Church Slavonic lajati “to lie in wait for”). Meaning “dormant” is from 1680s.
latent la·tent (lāt’nt)
adj.
Read Also:
- Latent allergy
latent allergy n. Hypersensitivity that causes no signs or symptoms but can be detected through immunological testing.
- Latent-ambiguity
noun, Law. 1. uncertainty that arises when a seemingly clear written instrument is matched against an extrinsic fact, as when a description of something being sold fits two different items.
- Latent-content
noun, Psychoanalysis. 1. the hidden meaning of a fantasy or dream, discoverable by analysis of the content of the dream. latent content n. The hidden meaning of a dream, fantasy, or thought that can be revealed through interpretation of its images or through free association in psychoanalysis.
- Latent diabetes
latent diabetes n. A mild form of diabetes mellitus in which the individual displays no overt symptoms, but has abnormal responses to various diagnostic tests. Also called chemical diabetes.
- Latent-function
noun, Sociology. 1. any function of an institution or other social phenomenon that is unintentional and often unrecognized.