From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhibernatehi‧ber‧nate /ˈhaɪbəneɪt $ -ər-/ verb [intransitive] HBASLEEPif an animal hibernates, it sleeps for the whole winter —hibernation /ˌhaɪbəˈneɪʃən $ -bər-/ noun [uncountable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
hibernate• One was already examining log crevices at the cabin, perhaps looking for a place to hibernate.• In fact, the ability to hibernate bestowed an ingenious advantage on many creatures.• The small mammals alive at this time did not hibernate, but had insulating fur and could burrow underground.• This is when the pilots who have been hibernating during the winter months get their gliders out and start flying again.• Woodchucks, like many other ground squirrels, hibernate in their underground burrows where they are thought to sleep away the winter.• He had thought that a hibernating man showed no sign of life, but now he knew that this was wrong.• Few people look at the bright side of impromptu, outdoor conversations with hibernating neighbors.• Amphibians may have survived because of their ability to hibernate or to enter a state of torpor.Origin hibernate (1800-1900) Latin past participle of hibernare “to pass the winter”, from hibernus “of the winter” 