Aestivated

/ˈɛstɪveɪtɪd/ adjective

Definition

Having entered a state of reduced activity or dormancy during summer heat.

Etymology

From aestivate plus the past participle suffix -ed. Used in biology to describe organisms in a state of estivation.

Kelly Says

Aestivated organisms are like nature's time travelers—their metabolism slows so dramatically that a snail or frog can survive months without food, water, or movement, emerging unchanged when conditions improve.

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