1 concealed, dormant.
2 existing but not developed or manifest.
Phrases and idioms:
latent heat Physics the heat required to convert a solid into a liquid or vapour, or a liquid into a vapour, without change of temperature. latent image Photog. an image not yet made visible by developing.
Derivatives:
latency n. latently adv.
Etymology: L latere latent- be hidden
Useful english dictionary. 2012.