latency
delay before a system responds
a delay before a computer, network, or device reacts
[low/high] latency; latency of [amount]; latency between [input] and [response]
- The video call kept freezing because the network had high latency.
- Gamers often choose servers near their location to reduce latency.
- The new payment system has an average latency of less than 100 milliseconds.
- High latency makes online games feel slow.
- We need lower latency for the app.
delay between cause and response
the time you wait before something produces a response or effect
latency between [stimulus] and [response]; latency to [respond]; response latency
- The researchers measured the latency between the tone and the baby's eye movement.
- Sleep latency is the time it takes a person to fall asleep after going to bed.
- The medication can have a latency of several hours before pain relief begins.
- The test measures the latency of each response.
- A shorter latency means a faster reaction.
hidden inactive state
a hidden inactive state, especially in an infection
latency in [virus/disease]; enter/establish/maintain latency; during latency
- Herpes viruses can remain in latency in nerve cells for years.
- During latency, the virus is present but may not cause symptoms.
- Scientists are studying how HIV maintains latency in certain immune cells.
- The virus can stay in latency for a long time.
- Latency means it is hidden and inactive.
- Base: latency
- Plural: latencies, latency
audio latency
1delay in heard sound
a delay between making a sound and hearing it
- The singer found it hard to record because the headphones had noticeable audio latency.
- Bluetooth speakers may add audio latency when you watch videos.
- The software lets musicians reduce audio latency while recording.
high latency
1long response delay
a large delay before a system reacts
- High latency made the remote desktop hard to use.
- The game is almost unplayable when the connection has high latency.
- Satellite internet can suffer from high latency because signals travel such long distances.
input latency
1delay after user input
the delay after you press, click, or move something
- The monitor's low input latency makes games feel more responsive.
- Wireless controllers can add a small amount of input latency.
- Players noticed input latency when they pressed jump and the character moved late.
latency period
1interval before effects appear
the time between something happening and its effect appearing
- There can be a long latency period between asbestos exposure and disease.
- The latency period for symptoms varies from patient to patient.
- The study recorded the latency period before each participant reacted to the image.
latency spike
1sudden temporary delay increase
a short sudden jump in delay
- The stream dropped frames whenever there was a latency spike.
- Players complained about latency spikes during the tournament.
- A background download caused several latency spikes on the home network.
low latency
1very short response delay
a very small delay before a system reacts
- The app needs low latency so traders can see price changes immediately.
- The company built a low-latency network for live video.
- Choose the nearest server for low latency.
network latency
1data travel delay
the delay in sending data over a network
- Network latency increased after the company moved its servers overseas.
- Engineers measured network latency before launching the streaming service.
- A wired connection can sometimes reduce network latency.
round-trip latency
1there-and-back signal delay
the delay for data to go to another place and come back
- The test showed a round-trip latency of 45 milliseconds.
- Video calls feel smoother when round-trip latency stays low.
- Engineers compared round-trip latency from different regions.