Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
verb (used without object), hi·ber·nat·ed, hi·ber·nat·ing.
- Zoology. to spend the winter in close quarters in a dormant condition, as bears and certain other animals.Compare estivate.
- to withdraw or be in seclusion; retire.
- to winter in a place with a milder climate: Each winter finds us hibernating in Florida.
verb (intr)
- (of some mammals, reptiles, and amphibians) to pass the winter in a dormant condition with metabolism greatly slowed downCompare aestivate
- to cease from activity
1660s, from Latin hibernationem (nominative hibernatio) “the action of passing the winter,” noun of action from past participle stem of hibernare “to winter, pass the winter, occupy winter quarters;” related to hiems “winter,” from PIE *gheim- “snow, winter” (cf. Sanskrit heman “in winter,” Hittite gimmanza, Greek kheima, Old Church Slavonic zima, Lithuanian žiema “winter”).
1802, probably a back-formation from hibernation. Related: Hibernated; hibernating.
- An inactive state resembling deep sleep in which certain animals living in cold climates pass the winter. In hibernation, the body temperature is lowered and breathing and heart rates slow down. Hibernation protects the animal from cold and reduces the need for food during the season when food is scarce. Compare estivation.
Passing the winter in a sleeping or inactive condition. Bears, ground squirrels, woodchucks, and several other kinds of animals hibernate.