diapause: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “diapause” mean?
A period of suspended development or dormancy in an insect, arthropod, or other organism, triggered by seasonal or environmental conditions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A period of suspended development or dormancy in an insect, arthropod, or other organism, triggered by seasonal or environmental conditions.
A state of metabolic suspension or arrested growth as a survival strategy to withstand adverse conditions such as winter, drought, or food scarcity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and usage are identical. Differences are limited to minor academic or regional preferences for associated terminology (e.g., 'overwintering' vs. 'winter dormancy').
Connotations
None. Strictly a technical term with identical connotations across varieties.
Frequency
Used with equal frequency in relevant academic and technical contexts in both the UK and US. Virtually non-existent in general everyday English.
Grammar
How to Use “diapause” in a Sentence
[Organism] enters/undergoes diapause.Diapause is induced/triggered by [cue].[Cue] breaks/terminates diapause.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “diapause” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The silkworm larvae will diapause as pupae.
- These beetles are programmed to diapause every winter.
American English
- The corn earworm moth diapauses in the soil.
- Researchers study what genes cause the insect to diapause.
adjective
British English
- The diapause stage is crucial for the insect's survival.
- They studied diapause physiology in depth.
American English
- The diapause hormone triggers metabolic shutdown.
- They collected diapause eggs for the experiment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Primary domain. Used in biology, entomology, ecology, agricultural science, and zoology research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would likely be misunderstood or require explanation.
Technical
Standard term in pest management, silkworm farming, and climate impact studies on insect populations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “diapause”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “diapause”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “diapause”
- Using 'diapause' to describe mammalian hibernation.
- Confusing 'diapause' (programmed, anticipatory) with 'quiescence' (an immediate response to bad conditions).
- Pronouncing it /ˈdiːəpɔːz/ (like 'diagram') instead of /ˈdaɪəpɔːz/ (like 'dial').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Hibernation is a specific term for prolonged winter dormancy in endotherms (e.g., mammals). Diapause is a broader term for programmed dormancy in arthropods and some other invertebrates, which can occur in any season (winter, summer, dry season).
Plants enter dormancy, which is analogous but not technically called diapause. Diapause is a term primarily reserved for the animal kingdom, especially insects.
It is a reproductive strategy where the development of a fertilised embryo is temporarily suspended (delayed implantation), found in some mammals like roe deer and marsupials, and many insects. This allows for optimal timing of birth.
Understanding the diapause cycles of pest insects is crucial for predicting population outbreaks and timing pesticide applications or biological control measures effectively, as insects in diapause are often resistant to treatments.
A period of suspended development or dormancy in an insect, arthropod, or other organism, triggered by seasonal or environmental conditions.
Diapause is usually technical/scientific in register.
Diapause: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdaɪəpɔːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdaɪəpɔːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DIAmeter PAUSEs'. Imagine the growth of an insect measuring its diameter, which completely PAUSES during diapause.
Conceptual Metaphor
Diapause is a PROGRAMMED SURVIVAL MODE, akin to a computer going into hibernation to save battery during a power outage, waiting for the right signal to reboot.
Practice
Quiz
What primarily distinguishes diapause from simple quiescence?