dormant Hear it!

dormant definition

dor·mant (dôr′mənt)

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

Related Forms:

  • dormancy dor′·man·cy (-mən sē) noun

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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