hibernation
pronunciation
How to pronounce hibernation in British English:
UK [ˌhaɪbɜːˈneɪʃən]
How to pronounce hibernation in American English:
US [ˌhaɪbərˈneɪʃən]
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- Noun:
- the torpid or resting state in which some animals pass the winter
- cessation from or slowing of activity during the winter; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals
- the act of retiring into inactivity
Word Origin
- hibernation (n.)
- 1660s, from Latin hibernationem (nominative hibernatio) "the action of passing the winter," noun of action from past participle stem of hibernare "to winter, pass the winter, occupy winter quarters;" related to hiems "winter," from PIE *gheim- "snow, winter" (cognates: Sanskrit heman "in winter," Hittite gimmanza, Greek kheima, Old Church Slavonic zima, Lithuanian žiema "winter").
Example
- 1. It differs from hibernation in the metabolic processes involved .
- 2. Access to food is essential for the bears , because they must build up high levels of fat reserves for winter hibernation and gestation .
- 3. For the third year in a row , what many anticipated to be a return to robust growth is beginning to look like another summer of hibernation .
- 4. Brumation is an example of dormancy in reptiles that is similar to hibernation .
- 5. Mammal hibernation matters to human medical research , says physiological ecologist hank harlow of the university of wyoming in laramie .