v.
Pronunciation: ' h ī -b ə r- ˌ n ā t
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form: -nat · ed ; -nat · ing
Etymology: Latin hibernatus, past participle of hibernare to passive the winter, from hibernus of winter; akin to Latin hiems winter, Greek cheim ō n
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 \ ˌ h ī -b ə r- ' n ā -sh ə n \ noun
– hi · ber · na · tor \ ' h ī -b ə r- ˌ n ā -t ə r \ noun