overwinter

[oh-ver-win-ter]

verb (used without object)

1. to pass, spend, or survive the winter.

   to overwinter on the Riviera.

overwinter

/ ˌəʊvəˈwɪntə /

verb

1. (intr) to spend winter (in or at a particular place)

2. (tr) to keep (animals or plants) alive through the winter

3. (intr) (of an animal or plant) to remain alive throughout the winter

Word History and Origins

Origin of overwinter¹

First recorded in 1890–95; over- + winter, replacing Old English oferwintran “to get through the winter,” which had become obsolete by the end of the Old English period (around 1150), and modeled on Norwegian and Danish overvintre, Swedish övervintra, Dutch overwinteren, or German überwintern

Example Sentences

Recent surveys identify "poor queens" as the most common explanation for overwintering losses.

Read more on Science Daily

Nearly every one of those caterpillars at some point drops from the tree canopy to overwinter or create a chrysalis.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As Dr Elizabeth Duncan says: "Unfortunately, they do compete with and can outcompete some native ladybird species, but they like to overwinter in different environments - harlequins in our homes and seven-spots in leaf litter."

Read more on BBC

Threats to the monarchs include the loss and degradation of habitat used for breeding, migration and overwintering, including milkweed plants they rely on as a place to lay their eggs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When it’s chilly, they chill out to conserve energy — going into a type of insect hibernation called overwintering, Gonzalez said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times