Latent period

Latent period
Latent La"tent (l[=a]"tent), a. [L. latens, -entis, p. pr. of latere to lie hid or concealed; cf. Gr. lanqa`nein, E. lethargy: cf. F. latent.] 1. Not visible or apparent; hidden; concealed; secret; dormant; as, latent springs of action. [1913 Webster]

The evils latent in the most promising contrivances are provided for as they arise. --Burke. [1913 Webster]

2. (Med.) Existing but not presenting symptoms; dormant or developing; -- of disease, especially infectious diseases; as, the latent phase of an infection. [PJC]

{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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • latent period — n 1) the period between exposure to a disease causing agent or process and the appearance of symptoms <the latent period between exposure to a tumorigenic dose of radioactivity and the appearance of tumors> 2) LATENCY (3) <smooth muscle… …   Medical dictionary

  • latent period — n. 1. the interval in the course of a disease between infection and the first appearance of the symptoms; incubation period 2. the interval between a stimulus and its response …   English World dictionary

  • latent period — Latency La ten*cy, n. [See {Latent}.] 1. The state or quality of being latent. [1913 Webster] To simplify the discussion, I shall distinguish three degrees of this latency. Sir W. Hamilton. [1913 Webster] 2. The time between a stimulus the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • latent period — latentinis laikotarpis statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Laikas nuo ligos sukėlėjų prasiskverbimo į organizmą iki pirmųjų ligos požymių atsiradimo. atitikmenys: angl. latent period; stage of latency vok. latent Zeitraum, m rus …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • latent period — latentinis laikotarpis statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Laikas nuo ląstelės, organo ar viso organizmo dirginimo pradžios iki atsako pradžios. atitikmenys: angl. latent period; stage of latency vok. latent Zeitraum, m rus.… …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • latent period — noun Date: 1837 1. the incubation period of a disease 2. the interval between stimulation and response …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • latent period — 1. Also, latency period. Pathol. the interval between exposure to a carcinogen, toxin, or disease causing organism and development of a consequent disease. 2. Physiol. the interval between stimulus and reaction. Also called latency. [1830 40] * * …   Universalium

  • latent period — noun Medicine the period between infection and the onset of symptoms …   English new terms dictionary

  • latent period — incubation period …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • latent period — la′tent pe riod n. 1) pat Also, latency period the interval between exposure to a carcinogen, toxin, or disease causing organism and development of a consequent disease. 2) phl the interval between a stimulus and response Also called latency… …   From formal English to slang

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