definitions

latent period

noun

Also latency period. Pathology. the interval between exposure to a carcinogen, toxin, or disease-causing organism and development of a consequent disease.
Physiology. the interval between stimulus and reaction.

RELATED CONTENT

What Are The 6 Major Punctuation Marks?You’ve definitely seen them around, but do you know how they’re supposed to be used? The major punctuation marks are the period, comma, exclamation point, question mark, semicolon, and colon. These marks organize sentences and give them structure. The Period A period (.) ends a sentence. It comes immediately after the last letter of a sentence, and there only needs to be one space between …
READ MORE
What’s The Difference Between “A While” And “Awhile”Few word pairs capture the idiosyncrasies ("peculiar characteristics") of the English language like a while and awhile do.
READ MORE

Nearby words

latent homosexuality, latent hyperopia, latent image, latent learning, latent nystagmus, latent period, latent reflex, latent root, latent schizophrenia, latent stage, latent strabismus

Origin of latent period

First recorded in 1830–40
Also called latency.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for latent period

latent period

noun

the incubation period of an infectious disease, before symptoms appear
another name for latent time
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

Medicine definitions for latent period

latent period

n.

The period elapsing between the application of a stimulus and the obvious response, such as the contraction of a muscle.
The interval between exposure to an infectious organism or a carcinogen and the clinical appearance of disease.incubation period
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for latent period

latent period

The interval between exposure to an infectious organism or a carcinogen and the appearance of symptoms or signs of disease.
The period elapsing between the application of a stimulus and the expected response, such as the contraction of a muscle.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.