dormant Hear it!

dormant Definition

dor·mant (dôrmənt)

adjective

  1. sleeping
  2. as if asleep; quiet; still
  3. inoperative; inactive
  4. Biol.
    1. torpid in winter; in a state of suspended animation
    2. live, but not actively growing
  5. Heraldry lying down in a sleeping position a lion dormant

Etymology: ME < OFr prp. of dormir < LL dormire < IE base *dre-, to sleep > Sans ni-dra, sleep

dormant Related Forms

dor·man·cy (-mən sē) noun

dormant Synonyms

dormant

modif.

  1. Sleeping

    torpid, somnolent, quiescent, lethargic; see asleep.

  2. Inactive

    inoperative, inert, in abeyance; see latent. See syn. study at latent.

dormant Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • largely: By this time the Welsh Hang Gliding Federation had become largely dormant.
  • previously: The introduction of cheap budget airlines has opened up a previously dormant market.
  • relatively: Therefore, America's military tended to be relatively dormant.
  • completely: Little do most people know, that volcano was completely dormant.

Preposition: for

  • while: But the seed had been planted within my self- imagery, which was to remain dormant for a long while.
  • decade: But it had been dormant for a decade until the Walls family took it over.
  • year: Can the grudge have lain dormant for eight hundred years?

Modifies a noun

  • volcano: A dormant volcano has not erupted in 2000 years.
  • bud: Carefully cut or gently pull a piece of root apart from the main plant, making sure there is a dormant bud attached.
  • virus: However, in adults, the dormant virus can then trigger shingles.
  • quarry: It is unlikely that any of the disused, dormant quarries in Torbay will be revived for mineral extraction.
  • account: In the meantime, there is no reason why an owner of a dormant account should not seek to regain contact with their monies.
  • seed: Removal of the seed coat promotes germination in dormant seed.

Used with adjective complement

  • lie: The energy of serenity lies dormant in all things, waiting to be awakened.
  • lay: Asbestos can lay dormant without causing any adverse effects for many years.
  • remain: The child remains dormant, in spite of the change.
  • become: The Grand Lodge of all England at York became dormant.
  • stay: While the game itself has stayed dormant for the last nine years, the setting has had a rich and fruitful life.
  • go: Did you have positive PCR tests over a period of several years until 1996 before your PCR tests went dormant?

Preposition: in

soil: The seeds can also survive dormant in the soil for up to 20 years.

Browse dictionary entries near dormant

  1. dorm
  2. Dorking
  3. dork
  4. Doris
  5. Doric
  6. Dorian
  7. dorhawk
  8. Dordrecht
  9. Dordogne
  10. Dorcas
  1. dormer
  2. dormie
  3. dormitory
  4. dormouse
  5. dormy
  6. dornick
  7. Dorothea
  8. Dorothy
  9. dorp
  10. dorsa