hibernation
B2Neutral to formal; common in scientific, educational, and figurative contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A state of deep sleep or inactivity in animals, especially during winter, marked by a dramatic drop in metabolic rate, body temperature, and heart rate to conserve energy.
A period of dormancy, inactivity, or temporary suspension of operation, often used metaphorically for people, organizations, or technology.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. The core biological meaning is specific to certain mammals, reptiles, and insects. The metaphorical extension is widely understood and used.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The metaphorical use in computing (e.g., 'hibernate mode') is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with classic wildlife documentaries in BrE. In AmE, the computing term might be more immediately familiar to the average speaker.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The ANIMAL enters hibernationThe SYSTEM is in hibernationto emerge from hibernationto put something into hibernationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not a strong idiom carrier. Often used literally or metaphorically as a fixed phrase, e.g., 'the company came out of hibernation']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe a company or project that is temporarily inactive. 'After the market crash, the startup went into financial hibernation.'
Academic
Used in biology, ecology, and zoology to describe a physiological adaptation. 'The study monitored the bear's heart rate throughout its hibernation.'
Everyday
Used to talk about animals in winter or a person sleeping a lot. 'I feel like I'm in hibernation during these dark winter months.'
Technical
In computing, a power-saving state where the system's state is saved to disk. 'Set your laptop to hibernation to save battery.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The hedgehogs in our garden will hibernate under the shed.
- Some bats hibernate in caves and attics.
American English
- The ground squirrels hibernate for up to eight months.
- My computer is set to hibernate after an hour of inactivity.
adjective
British English
- The hibernating bats are protected by law and must not be disturbed.
- We studied the hibernating behaviour of dormice.
American English
- A hibernating bear's metabolism slows dramatically.
- The device has a hibernating mode to preserve data.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Bears sleep in hibernation during winter.
- The frog is in hibernation under the mud.
- Many animals go into hibernation when it gets cold and food is scarce.
- After a long hibernation, the tortoise finally became active again.
- The biological process of hibernation involves a significant reduction in body temperature and metabolic rate.
- The project has been in hibernation for years, but they're now seeking new funding.
- Scientists are studying the genetic triggers that induce hibernation, with potential applications for long-duration spaceflight.
- The political movement, long in hibernation, has re-emerged with renewed vigour following the recent crisis.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HIGH (hi) BEAR NATION (bernation) where all the bears are sleeping soundly through the winter.
Conceptual Metaphor
INACTIVITY IS HIBERNATION (e.g., 'The market is in hibernation'), A SAFE MODE IS HIBERNATION (computing).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct cognate 'гибернация' in biological contexts; use 'зимняя спячка'. 'Гибернация' is correct for computing.
- Do not confuse with 'спячка' alone, which can mean just 'sleep' or 'nap'; 'зимняя спячка' is the precise term.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hibernation' for daily sleep. *'I need a long hibernation tonight.' (Incorrect for normal sleep)
- Confusing with 'migration' (seasonal movement). *'The geese began their hibernation south.' (Incorrect)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST accurate definition of 'hibernation' in its primary biological sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, hibernation is a specific, prolonged state of dormancy with drastic physiological changes (like lower body temperature) to survive winter, unlike regular daily sleep.
Not naturally in the true biological sense. Humans do not undergo the same metabolic drop. The term is used metaphorically for long periods of sleep or inactivity, and scientists are researching induced states for medical or space travel purposes.
Hibernation is dormancy during cold winter months, while aestivation (or estivation) is dormancy during hot, dry summer months to avoid heat and drought.
Not all species do, and the depth of hibernation varies. For example, while many temperate bear species enter a dormant state, it is not always as deep as the hibernation of smaller mammals like ground squirrels. Pregnant female bears give birth during this period.