Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense hibernates, present participle hibernating, past tense, past participle hibernated
verb
Animals that hibernate spend the winter in a state like a deep sleep.
Dormice hibernate from October to May. [VERB]
Hibernating insects begin to move. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: sleep, lie dormant, winter, overwinter More Synonyms of hibernate
hibernate in British English
(ˈhaɪbəˌneɪt)
verb(intransitive)
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
Derived forms
hibernation (ˌhiberˈnation)
noun
hibernator (ˈhiberˌnator)
noun
Word origin
C19: from Latin hībernāre to spend the winter, from hībernus of winter, from hiems winter
hibernate in American English
(ˈhaɪbərˌneɪt)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈhiberˌnated or ˈhiberˌnating
to spend the winter in a dormant state
see also estivate
Derived forms
hibernation (ˌhiberˈnation)
noun
hibernator (ˈhiberˌnator)
noun
Word origin
< L hibernatus, pp. of hibernare, to pass the winter < hibernus, wintry < IE *ĝheimerinos < base *ĝhei-, winter, snow > L hiems, Gr cheima, Czech zima, winter
Examples of 'hibernate' in a sentence
hibernate
There have even been reports of them hibernating successfully in this country in sheltered spots.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Chinese translation of 'hibernate'
hibernate
(ˈhaɪbəneɪt)
vi
冬眠 (dōngmián)
Nearby words of
hibernate
hi
hi-fi
hi-tech
hibernate
hiccough
hiccup
hid
(verb)
Definition
(of some animals) to pass the winter in a resting state in which heartbeat, temperature, and breathing rate are very low
Dormice hibernate from October to May.
Synonyms
sleep
I've not been able to sleep for the last few nights.