noun
hibernation
high-ber-NAY-shuhn/ˌhaɪbərˈneɪʃn/
A state of greatly reduced activity, especially during winter.
The hedgehog enters hibernation when temperatures fall and food becomes scarce.
Etymology
Latin hibernatio named the action of passing the winter, not specifically sleep. The English meaning narrowed to the dormant condition in which some animals spend that season.
In context
They’re preparing for hibernation. Hibernation is like a deep, deep sleep that some animals go into during the winter. They’ll sleep for months and months, and they don’t wake up until spring.
More examples
- Bats emerge from hibernation in the spring.
- The old project comes out of hibernation when funding returns.
- I put my laptop into hibernation to save power.
Forms
hibernation
hibernate verb — To enter a state of winter dormancy.
Similar words
- dormancy
- Dormancy emphasizes inactivity that can end when conditions improve.
- inactivity
- Inactivity simply means not being active, without suggesting winter dormancy.