adj. 1 lying inactive as in sleep; sleeping. 2 a (of a volcano etc.) temporarily inactive. b (of potential faculties etc.) in abeyance. 3 (of plants) alive but not actively growing. 4 Heraldry (of a beast) lying with its head on its paws. dormancy n.
[ ME f. OF, pres. part. of dormir f. L dormire sleep ]