hibernate
to spend the winter sleeping
TRANSLATION
hibernate (zool.) = Winterschlaf halten, überwintern hibernate (tech.) = in Ruhezustand wechseln hibernation= Winterschlaf, Ruhezustand --- GOOGLE INDEX hibernate: approximately 31,000,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Hedgehogs are one of only a very few mammals that truly HIBERNATE and it's almost time for them to wake up.
(BBC)
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The HIBERNATE function in Windows XP Professional can make the batteries in your laptop computer last longer.
(freepctech.com)
(BBC)
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The HIBERNATE function in Windows XP Professional can make the batteries in your laptop computer last longer.
(freepctech.com)
Did you
know?
hibernate (noun = hibernation)
verb
- to pass the winter in a dormant or torpid state
- to be in an inactive or dormant state or period
(American Heritage Dictionary)
---
Hibernate derives from the Latin hibernatio (the action of passing the winter), a noun of action from the present participle stem of hibernare "to winter, pass the winter, occupy winter quarters; related to hiems "winter."
We are all familiar with hibernating animals such as hedgehogs, mice, bats and bears, which spend the winter months "sleeping." Some mammals, such as squirrels, have long periods of inactivity in the winter, but occasionally "wake up" to eat and perform other bodily functions. Bears on the other hand truly do nothing during the winter.
Scientists argue about whether these animals are actually sleeping as opposed to just being in a state of inactivity. Applying this argument to the human species, then technically speaking most of us know people who appear to be hibernating, either in front of the television or at their desk at work. Human hibernation has not always been uncommon though.
In a 2007 New York Times article, Graham Robb claims that after the French Revolution, bureaucrats who had ventured out into the countryside discovered that the rural population had disappeared into their homes during the winter, leaving their fields unattended. He also mentions that human hibernation was once widespread in the Alps where they used to say "Seven months of winter, five months of hell."
Then there is Peter Skyllberg, a Swedish man and modern-day Rip Van Winkle who was trapped in his snow-covered car for two months. Two people on snowmobiles found him, dug him out and called the police. In bad shape, but still alive, Mr. Skyllberg at first declined to be taken to the hospital. When the police asked him why, he said, "I wanted to hibernate. I thought it would be a good idea to hibernate."
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SYNONYMS
lie dormant, sleep through cold weather, hide, hole up, lie torpid, sleep, vegetate, winter
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"When the weather gets cold and nasty, I just feel like hibernating."
verb
- to pass the winter in a dormant or torpid state
- to be in an inactive or dormant state or period
(American Heritage Dictionary)
---
Hibernate derives from the Latin hibernatio (the action of passing the winter), a noun of action from the present participle stem of hibernare "to winter, pass the winter, occupy winter quarters; related to hiems "winter."
We are all familiar with hibernating animals such as hedgehogs, mice, bats and bears, which spend the winter months "sleeping." Some mammals, such as squirrels, have long periods of inactivity in the winter, but occasionally "wake up" to eat and perform other bodily functions. Bears on the other hand truly do nothing during the winter.
Scientists argue about whether these animals are actually sleeping as opposed to just being in a state of inactivity. Applying this argument to the human species, then technically speaking most of us know people who appear to be hibernating, either in front of the television or at their desk at work. Human hibernation has not always been uncommon though.
In a 2007 New York Times article, Graham Robb claims that after the French Revolution, bureaucrats who had ventured out into the countryside discovered that the rural population had disappeared into their homes during the winter, leaving their fields unattended. He also mentions that human hibernation was once widespread in the Alps where they used to say "Seven months of winter, five months of hell."
Then there is Peter Skyllberg, a Swedish man and modern-day Rip Van Winkle who was trapped in his snow-covered car for two months. Two people on snowmobiles found him, dug him out and called the police. In bad shape, but still alive, Mr. Skyllberg at first declined to be taken to the hospital. When the police asked him why, he said, "I wanted to hibernate. I thought it would be a good idea to hibernate."
---
SYNONYMS
lie dormant, sleep through cold weather, hide, hole up, lie torpid, sleep, vegetate, winter
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"When the weather gets cold and nasty, I just feel like hibernating."
