hibernate

[ hahy-ber-neyt ]
See synonyms for: hibernatehibernatinghibernation on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),hi·ber·nat·ed, hi·ber·nat·ing.
  1. Zoology. to spend the winter in close quarters in a dormant condition, as bears and certain other animals.: Compare estivate (def. 2).

  2. to withdraw or be in seclusion; retire.

  1. to winter in a place with a milder climate: Each winter finds us hibernating in Florida.

Origin of hibernate

1
First recorded in 1795–1805, hibernate is from the Latin word hībernātus (past participle of hībernāre to spend the winter). See hibernal, -ate1

Other words from hibernate

  • hi·ber·na·tion [hahy-ber-ney-shuhn], /ˌhaɪ bərˈneɪ ʃən/, noun
  • hi·ber·na·tor, noun
  • post·hi·ber·na·tion, adjective
  • sem·i·hi·ber·na·tion, noun

Words Nearby hibernate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use hibernate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hibernate

hibernate

/ (ˈhaɪbəˌneɪt) /


verb(intr)
  1. (of some mammals, reptiles, and amphibians) to pass the winter in a dormant condition with metabolism greatly slowed down: Compare aestivate

  2. to cease from activity

Origin of hibernate

1
C19: from Latin hībernāre to spend the winter, from hībernus of winter, from hiems winter

Derived forms of hibernate

  • hibernation, noun
  • hibernator, noun

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