hibernation

• hybernation (obsolete)

From Latin hibernātus, from hibernō, from hībernus (“winter”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌhaɪ.bəːˈneɪ.ʃən/, [ˌhaɪ.bəːˈneɪ.ʃn̩]

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌhaɪ.bəɹˈneɪ.ʃən/, [ˌhaɪ.bɚˈneɪ.ʃn̩]
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

hibernation (countable and uncountable, plural hibernations)

1. (biology, sleep) A state of minimum power consumption, inactivity and metabolic depression in some animals during winter.

   Coordinate term: aestivation (summer inactivity)

   The bears are in hibernation.

   The bears come out of hibernation in March.

2. (biology, sleep, space science) A hypothetical state of minimum power consumption, inactivity and metabolic depression in humans during long space flights.
3. (computing) A standby state which conserves power by writing the contents of the memory to disk and completely power off the computer, in order that one will resume the session from the disk.

   Synonym: suspension to disk

   Coordinate terms: sleep mode, standby, suspension to memory

• semihibernation

• hibernate

• torpor

From hiberner +‎ -ation.

• IPA^(key): /i.bɛʁ.na.sjɔ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

hibernation f (plural hibernations)

1. hibernation

• hivernage

• “hibernation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.