Definition

1. Verb:
   • To spend the winter in a dormant or inactive state: This is the primary biological meaning, referring to animals entering a state of deep sleep to conserve energy during cold months when food is scarce.
   • To be in a state of inactivity or dormancy: Used more generally to describe any period of minimal activity, withdrawal, or suspension of function.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Biological):
  • Many animals, like ground squirrels and bats, hibernate to survive the winter.
  • The bear will hibernate in its den for several months.
• Verb (General/Figurative):
  • During the economic downturn, the construction project seemed to hibernate.
  • He decided to hibernate from social media for a few months to focus on his studies.

Advanced Usage

• "to go into hibernation": to begin the process of hibernating.
  • The hedgehogs go into hibernation when the temperature drops.
• "to come out of hibernation": to emerge from a dormant state.
  • The bears come out of hibernation in the spring, very hungry.

Variants and Related Words

• Hibernation (n): The state or period of hibernating.
  • The frog's hibernation lasts until the pond thaws.
• Hibernator (n): An animal that hibernates.
  • The woodchuck is a true hibernator.
• Hibernal (adj): Of, relating to, or occurring in winter.
  • The hibernal landscape was covered in snow.

Synonyms

• Dormant: In a state of rest or inactivity; not active but capable of becoming active.
• Lie dormant: To remain inactive for a period.
• Overwinter: To spend the winter in a particular place (can imply less profound dormancy than hibernate).

Related Phrases

• Hibernate mode (Computing): A power-saving state where the computer saves its current state to the hard disk and turns off.
  • I set my laptop to go into hibernate mode after 30 minutes of inactivity.

Verb

1. be in an inactive or dormant state
2. sleep during winter
   • Bears must eat a lot of food before they hibernate in their caves