diapause

American  

[dahy-uh-pawz] / ˈdaɪ əˌpɔz /

noun

1. a period of hormonally controlled quiescence, especially in immature insects, characterized by cessation of growth and reduction of metabolic activity, often occurring seasonally or when environmental conditions are unfavorable.

---

verb (used without object)

diapaused, diapausing

1. to undergo diapause.

diapause British  

/ ˈdaɪəˌpɔːz /

noun

1. a period of suspended development and growth accompanied by decreased metabolism in insects and some other animals. It is correlated with seasonal changes

---

Etymology

Origin of diapause

1890–95; < Greek diápausis; see dia-, pause

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

diapause

Like many insects, ladybirds enter a state of inactivity over winter known as diapause – an insect version of hibernation.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2025

They found significant overlap in gene expression patterns between the African turquoise and South American killifish, which evolved diapause independently of each other, but not in the two non-diapausing species.

From Science Daily ● May 28, 2024

They report May 30 in the journal Cell that although killifish evolved diapause less than 18 million years ago, they did so by co-opting ancient genes that originated more than 473 million years ago.

From Science Daily ● May 28, 2024

But Dr. Lysiak said there is a phenomenon that could explain the first scenario: delayed implantation, also known as embryonic diapause.

From New York Times ● Jul. 25, 2023

The embryos develop inside, and the immature insects rest for about 9 1/2 months in suspended development, or diapause.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 13, 2022