Main Entry:

hi·ber·nate

Pronunciation:

\ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt\

Function:

intransitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

hi·ber·nat·ed; hi·ber·nat·ing

Etymology:

Latin hibernatus, past participle of hibernare to pass the winter, from hibernus of winter; akin to Latin hiems winter, Greek cheimōn

Date:

circa 1802

1 : to pass the winter in a torpid or resting state 2 : to be or become inactive or dormant

— hi·ber·na·tion \ˌhī-bər-ˈnā-shən\ noun

— hi·ber·na·tor \ˈhī-bər-ˌnā-tər\ noun