Noun: latent period
- The time that elapses between a stimulus and the response to it
"There is often a latent period between exposure to a virus and the onset of symptoms";
- reaction time, response time, latency
- The time that elapses before the presence of a disease is manifested by symptoms
"The virus had a long latent period before symptoms appeared"
Derived forms: latent periods
Type of: interval, time interval
Encyclopedia: Latent period