latent heat

latent heat

n.

The quantity of heat absorbed or released by a substance undergoing a change of state, such as ice changing to water or water to steam, at constant temperature and pressure. Also called heat of transformation.

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latent heat

n

(Physics / General Physics) (no longer in technical usage) the heat evolved or absorbed by unit mass (specific latent heat) or unit amount of substance (molar latent heat) when it changes phase without change of temperature

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latent heat  (ltnt)

The quantity of heat absorbed or released by a substance undergoing a change of state, such as ice changing to liquid water or liquid water changing to ice, at constant temperature and pressure. The latent heat absorbed by air when water vapor condenses is ultimately the source of the power of thunderstorms and hurricanes. See also heat capacity.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

latent heat - heat absorbed or radiated during a change of phase at a constant temperature and pressure heat of transformation heat, heat energy - a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature heat of condensation - heat liberated by a unit mass of gas at its boiling point as it condenses into a liquid; "the heat of condensation is equal to the heat of vaporization" heat of fusion - heat absorbed by a unit mass of a solid at its melting point in order to convert the solid into a liquid at the same temperature; "the heat of fusion is equal to the heat of solidification" heat of solidification - heat liberated by a unit mass of liquid at its freezing point when it solidifies heat of sublimation - heat absorbed by a unit mass of material when it changes from a solid to a gaseous state heat of vaporisation, heat of vaporization - heat absorbed by a unit mass of a material at its boiling point in order to convert the material into a gas at the same temperature