overwinter

American  

[oh-ver-win-ter] / ˌoʊ vərˈwɪn tər /

verb (used without object)

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

   to overwinter on the Riviera.

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overwinter British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of overwinter

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