HIBERNATION • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Hibernation

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/hˌaɪbərnˈeɪʃən/ Listen

Hibernation

noun

The torpid or resting state in which some animals pass the winter.

Cessation from or slowing of activity during the winter; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals.

The act of retiring into inactivity.

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Etymology of 'Hibernation'

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"Hibernation" Quotes from Famous Books

... of life still burns, but very faintly and slowly, as with the draughts all closed and the ashes heaped up. Respiration is continued, but at longer intervals, and all the vital processes are nearly at a standstill. Dig one out during hibernation (Audubon did so), and you find it a mere inanimate ball, that suffers itself to be moved and rolled about without showing signs of awakening. But bring it in by the fire, and it presently unrolls and opens its eyes, and crawls feebly about, and ...

— The Writings of John Burroughs • John Burroughs

... immature parasites in salamanders taken in July); therefore, the salamanders lose their worms in winter. This suggests that during their subterranean life salamanders are inactive, and avoid ingestion of infective stages of the parasites. A fairly complete hibernation such as we suppose they undergo has been reported by Szymanski (1914) for Salamandra on the basis of kymographic records ...

— Natural History of the Salamander, Aneides hardii • Richard F. Johnston

Words linked to "Hibernation" : torpidity, torpor, retirement, quiescency, quiescence, dormancy, hibernate