Definition of hibernate in English English dictionary
To enter a standby state which conserves power without losing the contents of memory
Your computer hibernates after it has been idle for the specified amount of time. — Microsoft Corp, Use Hibernate and Standby to Conserve Batteries (2001).
A deep sleep that can lasts for months that some animals take that reduces the amount of energy that they use When an animal is hibernating their heart beat slows down and they don't have to eat or go to the bathroom the whole time Polar bears don't quite hibernate, but they do sleep a lot
sleep during winter; "Bears must eat a lot of food before they hibernate in their caves"
{f} spend the winter in a dormant condition (of certain animals); spend the winter in a place with a milder climate (of people); retreat, be in seclusion, be inactive
Some animals go into a state of where they almost go to sleep for a long period and their bodies slow right down This allows them to survive the winter when there would be little food about
Animals that hibernate spend the winter in a state like a deep sleep. Dormice hibernate from October to May. if an animal hibernates, it sleeps for the whole winter (past participle of hibernare , from hibernus )
A condition in which an animal's metabolism is purposely slowed to endure prolonged periods of adverse environmental conditions normally several months at a time
A period of dormancy in animals during which there is a marked drop in the rate of metabolism and growth, including heartbeat, respiratory rate, circulation, and body temperature The torpidity of an animal, especially in winter when the temperature of the body approximates that of the surroundings and rate of both respiration and heartbeat are much slower than in an active animal
A state of dormancy or reduced activity typically entered at the onset of winter Hibernating saves the animal a great deal of energy at a time where food is not readily available Also referred to as "overwintering "
Hibernation is a state of inactivity in an animal and may be viewed as a survival strategy that can be very successful in environments in which food is scarce or just difficult to find during a long, cold winter season Dropping into deep hibernation or into a torpid state allows the animal to use their body's energy reserves at a slower rate than they would if they were maintaining themselves at their typical basal metabolic rate Some ecologists refer to hibernation as "time migration" Hibernation allows the animal to skip over the cold, stressful seasons and only expend itself fully in those months of abundant food and moderate climatic conditions A major disadvantage to hibernation, though, is that the hibernating animal is quite defenseless when it is in a deep hibernative or even torpid state A very secure hibernating den (the "hibernaculum") is needed to protect the inactive animal
cessation from or slowing of activity during the winter; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals the torpid or resting state in which some animals pass the winter
State of greatly slowed metabolism and low body temperature in winter in certain animals. True hibernators include many cold-blooded animals and a few mammals (e.g., bats, hedgehogs) that go into a near-dead state with a near-freezing body temperature and very slow breathing and heart rate. Mammals such as bears that sleep in dens with only slightly lowered body temperature wake easily and are not considered true hibernators. Most hibernators build up a reserve of body fat or store food ahead of time. They may wake and eat several times during the winter. Cold-blooded animals must hibernate where the weather drops below freezing. Hibernation's warm-weather equivalent is estivation
A condition where an animal's metabolism is purposely slowed to endure prolonged periods of adverse environmental conditions, normally several months at a time
the act of retiring into inactivity; "he emerged from his hibernation to make his first appearance in several years" cessation from or slowing of activity during the winter; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals the torpid or resting state in which some animals pass the winter
Of an animal, torpidity especially in winter; the body temperature approximates that of the surroundings; the rate of respiration and the heart beat ordinarily are much slower than in an active mammal
reduction of biological activity by organisms during winter, or, more generally, during cold periods True hibernators, such as hoary marmots and Arctic ground squirrels, reduce their body temperatures close to freezing and cannot be readily awoken
A period of inactivity that occurs in some MAMMALS and other VERTEBRATES during winter It is an ADAPTATION to conserve energy when there is little food available
A long-term, deep sleep during which the animal's heartbeat and respiration rates slow considerably down Before going into hibernation, animals will store fat in their bodies to live off of until they awaken