hibernate

[hi-ber-neyt]

See more synonyms for hibernate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), hi·ber·nat·ed, hi·ber·nat·ing.

Zoology. to spend the winter in close quarters in a dormant condition, as bears and certain other animals.Compare estivate.
to withdraw or be in seclusion; retire.
to winter in a place with a milder climate: Each winter finds us hibernating in Florida.

Origin of hibernate

First recorded in 1795–1805, hibernate is from the Latin word hībernātus (past participle of hībernāre to spend the winter). See hibernal, -ate¹

Related formshi·ber·na·tion, nounhi·ber·na·tor, nounpost·hi·ber·na·tion, adjectivesem·i·hi·ber·na·tion, noun

Can be confusedestivate hibernate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for hibernate

hide, vegetate, sleep, winter, immure

Examples from the Web for hibernate

Contemporary Examples of hibernate

After these well-meaning moments they are left alone to hibernate with their own devastation.
Homefront Veterans: Skiing With Wounded Warriors
John Kael Weston
February 17, 2014

Historical Examples of hibernate

Simply a hole to hibernate in and to sleep and eat in in summer.
Other Main-Travelled Roads
Hamlin Garland
Apparently he does not hibernate, for on sunny days he may be seen the year round.
The Rocky Mountain Wonderland
Enos A. Mills
And besides, it is fairly certain that they, like most others of their kind, hibernate.
The Shadow Passes
Roy J. Snell
It does not hibernate, and may be seen in winter pursuing its prey beneath the ice.
Animal Life of the British Isles
Edward Step
The Squirrel does not hibernate, as it is said by the older writers to do.
Animal Life of the British Isles
Edward Step

British Dictionary definitions for hibernate

hibernate

verb (intr)

(of some mammals, reptiles, and amphibians) to pass the winter in a dormant condition with metabolism greatly slowed downCompare aestivate
to cease from activity

Derived Formshibernation, nounhibernator, noun

Word Origin for hibernate

C19: from Latin hībernāre to spend the winter, from hībernus of winter, from hiems winter

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

Word Origin and History for hibernate

1802, probably a back-formation from hibernation. Related: Hibernated; hibernating.