51Թ

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View synonyms for

latent

[ leyt-nt ]

adjective

  1. present but not visible, apparent, or activated; existing as potential:

    latent ability.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms: ,

  2. Pathology. (of an infectious agent or disease) in a phase of being hidden or unrecognized; not yet exhibiting symptoms. Compare dormant ( def 4 ).
  3. Psychology. existing in unconscious or dormant form but potentially able to achieve expression:

    latent learning,

    a latent emotion.

  4. Botany. (of buds that are not externally manifest) dormant or undeveloped.


latent

/ ˈɪəԳ /

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 Compare manifest

    latent content

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٱԳٱ, adverb
  • ˈٱԳ, noun
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ·ٱԳ· adverb
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of latent1

First recorded before 1610–20; from Latin latent- (stem of ŧԲ ), present participle of ŧ “to lie hidden”; -ent
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of latent1

C17: from Latin ŧԳ-, from latens present participle of ŧ to lie hidden
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Synonym Study

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.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But intimacy has a way of drawing out latent political tensions and making them intensely personal.

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If you’re looking to enliven jarred sauce or some plain tomato puree, you can never go wrong with enriching the latent flavors.

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Beneath every figurative form he creates, there is a grid-like sequence compelling us to question the latent networks in not only what we see, but how we respond.

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More worrisome: although active, or symptomatic, TB is a reportable disease, latent TB is not.

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Snow that has fallen, or ice that has formed on surfaces, can often melt in the sun or form latent heat from the surface.

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