1
the latency of [noun]
这个结构常用来表示某事物具有的延迟或潜伏期，后接具体对象。
The latency of the virus can last for years in the body.
该病毒的潜伏期可能持续数年。
潜伏；潜在
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
潜伏；潜在
the state of being not yet evident or active
The latency of the virus can last for years in the body.
该病毒的潜伏期可能持续数年。
隐藏；潜伏；潜在状态。
Concealment; the state of being latent; the state of being hidden.
休眠；不活跃状态。
Dormancy; the state of being inactive.
延迟；某事开始与发生之间的间隔。
A delay, an interval between the initiation of something and the occurrence.
延迟；从请求数据或操作到开始响应或执行的间隔,常用于衡量系统性能。
The time delay between a request for data or action and the beginning of the response or execution, often measured to assess system performance.
Many tree seeds pass through a long latency before they start to grow.
许多树木的种子在开始生长之前会经历一个漫长的潜伏期。
The old dispute remained in latency for years until a new argument brought it back.
这场旧争端潜伏多年，直到一次新的争吵又把它带了回来。
Her talent stayed in latency during her childhood, only emerging in her twenties.
她的才能在童年时期处于潜伏状态，直到二十多岁才显现出来。
这个结构常用来表示某事物具有的延迟或潜伏期，后接具体对象。
The latency of the virus can last for years in the body.
该病毒的潜伏期可能持续数年。
in 后接动词的 -ing 形式，表示在某个动作过程中的延迟。
There is a noticeable latency in loading the website.
加载网站时存在明显的延迟。
from...to... 用来描述从起始点到结束点的延迟时间，常见于医学和工程语境。
The average latency from exposure to symptoms is two weeks.
从接触到出现症状的平均潜伏期为两周。
用 of 引出具体的延迟时长，常用 a 开头，数字后接单位。
The new system has a latency of about 20 milliseconds.
新系统的延迟约为20毫秒。
Not this
The network latency is very slow.
Use this
The network latency is very high.
latency（延迟）是时间量，英语中常用 high/low 或 long/short 修饰，不用 slow（慢）。“网络延迟很慢”是受汉语“慢”影响的错误搭配，应改为“延迟很高”。
Not this
The response latent was 100ms.
Use this
The response latency was 100ms.
latent 是形容词“潜在的、潜伏的”，不能作主语宾语；表示“响应延迟”这个名词意义要用 latency（名词）。原句误把形容词当名词用，属词性混淆。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
低延迟
The game requires low latency for smooth online play.
这款游戏需要低延迟才能流畅在线游玩。
网络延迟
Network latency can affect video call quality.
网络延迟会影响视频通话质量。
潜伏期
The disease has a long latency period before symptoms appear.
这种疾病在症状出现前有很长的潜伏期。
减少延迟
Engineers are working to reduce latency in the system.
工程师们正在努力减少系统延迟。
入睡潜伏期
Caffeine can shorten sleep latency.
咖啡因可以缩短入睡潜伏期。
Use latency naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
latency 以 late（迟）开头，正如潜伏的事物迟迟未显现；联想 latent 潜伏的，记忆更牢。
语域：mixed 常见场景：学术或心理/医学语境：潜伏状态、计算机/网络语境：延迟时间 该词有两种常见用法：一般语境中表示“潜伏、潜在”，多用于正式或学术表达；在计算机/网络语境中常指“延迟”，属于技术用语。日常口语中较少出现，建议根据场合选择。
真正的同韵词: patency (/ˈpeɪtənsi/)。latent (/ˈleɪtənt/) 和 lately (/ˈleɪtli/) 虽以 /leɪt/ 开头，但结尾不同；Latin (/ˈlætɪn/) 和 lattice (/ˈlætɪs/) 拼写相似但元音为 /æ/；agency (/ˈeɪdʒənsi/) 拼写以 -ency 结尾，但辅音不同。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.