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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Latent: Definition, Usage & Common Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：existing but inactive (latent)

latent 🔊

/ˈleɪtənt/

adj.

Describes something that exists but is not active, obvious, or developed yet.

Latent talent illustration showing hidden potential within a person.

existing but inactive 🔊

➕

/ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ bʌt ɪnˈæktɪv/

adj.

Refers to something that is present but not currently active, obvious, or developed.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'latens', meaning 'lying hidden', from verb 'latēre' 'to lie hidden'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'latent' as 'late' to appear – it's there but not active yet.

📖 Example

Her latent talent for painting was only discovered when she joined an art class on a whim. 🔊 Her hidden talent for painting was only discovered when she joined an art class on a whim.

🔗 Collocations

latent talent – a hidden ability not yet developed

latent ability – an inherent skill not yet active

latent potential – unrealized capability

🔄 Synonyms

dormant (adj.) – temporarily inactive

hidden (adj.) – not easily seen

potential (adj.) – possible but not yet actual

🚫 Antonyms

active (adj.) – currently functioning

manifest (adj.) – clearly apparent

🌱 Derivatives

latency (n.) – the state of being latent

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'latens' (present participle of 'latēre', to lie hidden), 'latent' entered English in the 17th century. It is commonly used in psychology for latent desires and in technology for latent defects.

Meaning 2：present but dormant (latent)

latent 🔊

/ˈleɪtənt/

adj.

Especially used for things like viruses or flaws that are present in a system but not yet causing effects or showing symptoms.

Latent flaw in computer code diagram showing hidden dormant error.

present but dormant 🔊

➕

/ˈprɛzənt bʌt ˈdɔːrmənt/

adj.

Specifically describes elements like viruses or flaws that exist in a system without currently causing effects.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The software engineer found a latent bug in the code that could cause problems under very specific conditions. 🔊 The software engineer found a hidden bug in the code that could cause problems under very specific conditions.

🔗 Collocations

latent bug – a hidden error in software

latent defect – a flaw not yet apparent

latent virus – an inactive pathogen

🔄 Synonyms

dormant (adj.) – in a state of rest or inactivity

inactive (adj.) – not functioning

hidden (adj.) – concealed

🚫 Antonyms

active (adj.) – currently operating

apparent (adj.) – obvious

🌱 Derivatives

latency (n.) – the delay before a transfer of data begins