Something that is dormant is not active, growing, or being used at the present time but is capable of becoming active later on.
例句
...when the long dormant volcano of Mount St Helens erupted in 1980...当长期休眠的圣海伦斯火山在 1980 年爆发时The virus remains dormant in nerve tissue until activated...病毒潜伏于神经组织里直到被激活。
英英词典释义
Noun
1. a state of quiet (but possibly temporary) inaction;