latent
latent — 形容詞
1. existing in someone or something but not yet shown, active, or developed — for e
潛伏的；潛在
隱藏但可能顯現的
existing in someone or something but not yet shown, active, or developed — for example, a hidden talent, a quiet feeling of anger, or a disease that has not yet caused symptoms.
Theo's latent talent for painting only emerged after a weekend art class.
Theo 的繪畫潛在才能在參加週末美術課後才顯現出來。
latent talent — noun after latent
Scientists warn that the volcano's latent activity could become dangerous.
科學家警告說，這座火山的潛伏活動可能變得很危險。
latent activity — of natural phenomena
The disease can remain latent in the body for years before symptoms appear.
這種疾病可在體內潛伏多年，之後才出現症狀。
Eri discovered a latent ability to speak Spanish during her trip to Mexico.
Eri 在墨西哥旅行時發現了自己說西班牙語的潛在能力。
There is latent anger among the workers that could lead to a strike.
工人之間存在著可能導致罷工的潛在憤怒。
- dormant
suggests a temporary rest state, common for volcanoes, plants, and biological processes
- hidden
broader term meaning simply 'not visible', without implying future emergence
- potential
focuses on future possibility rather than current hiddenness
- inactive
neutral term for 'not currently active', without the 'awaiting trigger' nuance
文法句型
latent + noun
remain/stay/lie + latent
用法筆記
Frequently used before a noun (latent talent, latent anger), but can also follow linking verbs such as remain, stay, or lie, especially in formal or technical writing.
常見錯誤
latent — 名詞
1. a barely visible fingerprint left on a surface at a crime scene, which can be ma
潛伏指紋
犯罪現場難以肉眼看見的指紋
a barely visible fingerprint left on a surface at a crime scene, which can be made clearly visible using special techniques so that it can be studied as evidence.
Detectives found a latent print on the window frame at the crime scene.
偵探在犯罪現場的窗框上找到了一枚潛伏指紋。
latent print — shortened form of latent fingerprint
The forensic team used special powder to make the latent fingerprint visible.
鑑識小組使用特殊粉末讓潛伏指紋變得可見。
Noor's latent fingerprint matched the one on the stolen car door handle.
Noor 的潛伏指紋與被偷汽車門把上的指紋相符。
A latent print can last for weeks on a surface if the conditions are right.
在適當條件下，潛伏指紋可以在物體表面留存數週。
- fingerprint
general term; not all fingerprints found at a scene are latent
- print
shorter form, very common in forensic shorthand
文法句型
latent print
develop + latent fingerprint
lift + latent print
用法筆記
Almost always used in crime-scene investigation contexts. Both latent fingerprint and the shortened form latent print are standard in police reports and forensic textbooks.