verb

hibernate

to hibernate

Bears hibernate during the winter.

Bears hibernate during the winter.

My computer hibernates to save power.

My computer hibernates to save power.

((subject)) to spend the winter in a dormant state. Some animals hibernate in caves.

Synonyms: overwinter, lie dormant; Antonyms: aestivate (to be dormant in summer)

From Latin 'hibernus' meaning 'wintry', from 'hiems' (winter). It literally means 'to pass the winter'.

Think of a 'bear' in a den during winter. The 'hi-ber-nate' sounds a bit like 'hide-for-winter-late'.

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