The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.]
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Not visible or apparent; hidden; concealed; secret; dormant; as, latent springs of action.
The evils latent in the most promising contrivances are provided for as they arise.
--Burke. -
(Med.) Existing but not presenting symptoms; dormant or developing; -- of disease, especially infectious diseases; as, the latent phase of an infection. 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.
(Med.) The regular time in which a disease is supposed to be existing without manifesting itself.
(Physiol.) One of the phases in a simple muscular contraction, in which invisible preparatory changes are taking place in the nerve and muscle.
(Biol.) One of those periods or resting stages in the development of the ovum, in which development is arrested prior to renewed activity.
Wiktionary
n. (context physics English) the heat that is released or absorbed accompanying a change of state or of phase
WordNet
n. heat absorbed or radiated during a change of phase at a constant temperature and pressure [syn: heat of transformation]
Wikipedia
Latent heat is energy released or absorbed, by a body or a thermodynamic system, during a constant-temperature process that is specified in some way. An example is latent heat of fusion for a phase change, melting, at a specified temperature and pressure. The term was introduced around 1762 by Scottish chemist Joseph Black. It is derived from the Latin latere (to lie hidden). Black used the term in the context of calorimetry where a heat transfer caused a volume change while the thermodynamic system's temperature was constant.
In contrast to latent heat, sensible heat involves an energy transfer that results in a temperature change of the system.
Usage examples of "latent heat".
Almost half of that atmosphere and by far the greater part of the liquid phase of the planet is a substance of extremely low latent heat of vaporization, with a boiling point such that during the daytime it is a vapor and at night a liquid.
He understood that latent heat (as they say in physics) of patriotism which was present in all these men he had seen, and this explained to him why they all prepared for death calmly, and as it were lightheartedly.
This population full of proud virtue, capable to the highest degree of latent heat, always ready to fly to arms, prompt to explode, irritated, deep, undermined, seemed to be only awaiting the fall of a spark.
The water vapor rises up the core of the system and releases rain and latent heat.
Alexander was in and out of the Hotel de Valentinois like one of the family, sometimes rousing Franklin from his bed before the usual hour to converse on the latest theory of latent heat or the increasing consumption of sugar in Britain.
A dry, southeasterly breeze helped it change state into vapor, sucking up latent heat in the process.
All that latent heat stored in the oceans would pour into the atmosphere.
Such air contains energy in the form of latent heat absorbed from the sun.
To remove the warmth of animals, the latent heat of gases and liquids, even to end the phoenix reaction within the stars themselves.