aestivation

Everyday

1. (science) A long sleep-like rest that some animals go into during very hot, dry weather, to save water and energy — like hibernation, but in summer. tree →
2. (botany) The way the parts of a flower bud are folded before it opens. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about animal adaptations, aestivation is compared with hibernation (winter sleep). Snails, lungfish, some frogs, tortoises and crocodiles can aestivate: they hide in mud or burrows and slow down until the rain comes. Verb: aestivate.

Examples

• Some frogs in Australia survive drought by aestivation underground. tree →
• The African lungfish wraps itself in mucus during aestivation. tree →
• Snails seal their shells with a dry layer during aestivation. tree →
• Hibernation is for winter, and aestivation is for hot, dry summers. tree →
• After weeks of aestivation, the frogs woke when the rain fell. tree →
• The desert tortoise uses aestivation to escape the heat. tree →

Note

British spelling «aestivation», American «estivation». Comes from Latin «aestas», summer. Say «ee-stiv-AY-shun». Uncountable. Do not mix up with «hibernation» (winter).