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Definition of hibernate verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

 

hibernate

 verb
verb
NAmE//ˈhaɪbərˌneɪt//
 
[intransitive]Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they hibernate
 
he / she / it hibernates
 
past simple hibernated
 
-ing form hibernating
 
 
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(of animals) to spend the winter in a state like deep sleep Topic CollocationsThe Living Worldanimals
  • animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
  • fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
  • birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
  • insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
  • insects/bees/locusts swarm
  • bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
  • spiders spin/weave a web
  • snakes/lizards shed their skins
  • bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
  • insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
  • an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
  • attract/find/choose a mate
  • produce/release eggs/sperm
  • lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
  • inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
  • mark/enter/defend (a) territory
  • stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
plants and fungi
  • trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
  • a seed germinates/sprouts
  • leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
  • flower buds swell/open
  • a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
  • pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
  • produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
  • produce/bear fruit
  • develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
  • provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
  • perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
bacteria and viruses
  • bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
  • bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
  • bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
  • bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
  • a virus enters/invades something/the body
  • a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
  • be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
  • contain/carry/harbor bacteria/a virus
  • kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
NAmE//ˌhaɪbərˈneɪʃn//
 
noun [uncountable] to go into/come out of hibernation
See hibernate in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary