latent heat

2 definitions found

latent heat - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.]
     1. Not visible or apparent; hidden; concealed; secret;
        dormant; as, latent springs of action.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The evils latent in the most promising contrivances
              are provided for as they arise.       --Burke.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Med.) Existing but not presenting symptoms; dormant or
        developing; -- of disease, especially infectious diseases;
        as, the latent phase of an infection.
        [PJC]
  
     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.
        (a) (Med.) The regular time in which a disease is supposed
            to be existing without manifesting itself.
        (b) (Physiol.) One of the phases in a simple muscular
            contraction, in which invisible preparatory changes
            are taking place in the nerve and muscle.
        (c) (Biol.) One of those periods or resting stages in the
            development of the ovum, in which development is
            arrested prior to renewed activity.
            [1913 Webster]

latent heat - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  latent heat
      n 1: heat absorbed or radiated during a change of phase at a
           constant temperature and pressure [syn: latent heat,
           heat of transformation]