Dictionary
Thesaurus
Sentence Examples

Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » hibernate

hibernate

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of hibernate is to spend the winter in a dormant state or sleep through the winter, or to stay indoors and not leave.

(verb)

When you lock yourself in your house for a week with books and magazines, this is an example of a situation where you hibernate.
When a bear sleeps through the winter in a dormant state, this is an example of a situation where the bear hibernates.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See hibernate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb hibernated, hibernating

to spend the winter in a dormant state

Origin: < L hibernatus, pp. of hibernare, to pass the winter < hibernus, wintry < IE *ĝheimerinos < base *ĝhei-, winter, snow > L hiems, Gr cheima, Czech zima, winter

Related Forms:

hibernation noun
hibernator noun

See hibernate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intransitive verb hi·ber·nat·ed, hi·ber·nat·ing, hi·ber·nates

To pass the winter in a dormant or torpid state.
To be in an inactive or dormant state or period.

Origin:

Origin: Latin hībernāre, hībernāt-, to winter

Origin: , from hībernus, relating to winter; see ghei- in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

hiˌber·naˈtion noun

hiˈber·naˌtor noun

Learn more about hibernate

hibernate synonyms

hibernate computer definition

hibernate in a sentence

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD

» more results...

Hiberno-English

About YourDictionary Advertisers Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Help
© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.