cryptobiosis

British

/ ˌkrɪptəʊbaɪˈəʊsɪs /

noun

zoology a temporary state in an organism in which metabolic activity is absent or undetectable

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

cryptobiosis

Water bears usually enter cryptobiosis in response to facing what other organisms might consider a harsh environment.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2024

In cryptobiosis, animals’ bodies slow down and use very little energy.

From NewsForKids.net ● Aug. 10, 2023

The same genes were found in a contemporary nematode called Caenorhabditis elegans, which can also achieve cryptobiosis.

From New York Times ● Jul. 29, 2023

In addition to the radiocarbon dating, the authors of the new study also confirmed that they could successfully induce the nematodes to enter and exit the dormancylike state of cryptobiosis using special preparatory cues.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 27, 2023

Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are able to adapt to extreme environments because of a process called cryptobiosis.

From National Geographic ● Aug. 2, 2016

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023