Definition

1. Adjective:
   • In a state of hibernation: Describes an animal that is in a deep, prolonged sleep during winter to conserve energy. This state involves a significant reduction in metabolic activity, body temperature, and heart rate.
   • In a state of dormancy or suspended activity: Can be used metaphorically to describe something that is inactive, latent, or in a state of rest.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The hibernating bear will not emerge from its den until spring.
  • Scientists studied the physiological changes in the hibernating ground squirrel.
  • After the project was canceled, the plans remained hibernating on the server for years.

Advanced Usage

• "To be found hibernating": Emphasizes the discovery of an animal in this state.
  • The children were excited to find a hibernating hedgehog under the pile of leaves.
• Used metaphorically for technologies or processes.
  • The old software lay hibernating on the backup drive, waiting to be revived.

Variants and Related Words

• Hibernate (verb): To spend the winter in a dormant state.
  • Many bats hibernate in caves.
• Hibernation (noun): The state or period of hibernating.
  • The bear's hibernation lasts several months.
• Hibernal (adjective): Of, relating to, or occurring in winter.
  • The hibernal landscape was covered in snow.

Synonyms

• Dormant: In a state of rest or inactivity; temporarily inactive.
• Torpid: Mentally or physically inactive; lethargic.
• Inactive: Not active or in use.

Related Phrases

• Go into hibernation: To begin the process of hibernating.
  • The chipmunks will go into hibernation as the days get shorter.
• Come out of hibernation: To emerge from the state of hibernation.
  • The bears come out of hibernation very hungry.

Related Idioms

• Hibernate mode: A computing term derived from the biological concept, where a computer saves its current state to disk and powers down, to be resumed later.
  • I put my laptop in hibernate mode overnight.

Adjective

1. in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
   • dormant buds
   • a hibernating bear
   • torpid frogs