anabiotic

9.9

Being in a deep temporary sleep that helps a living thing survive extreme conditions

adjective
/ˌænəˈbaɪətɪk/

Specialized

: anabiótico

Tardigrades can survive extreme conditions by entering an anabiotic state.

Examples

The anabiotic state of the tardigrade allows it to survive extreme conditions.
Many plants enter an anabiotic phase during drought.
Research on anabiotic organisms may lead to advances in cryopreservation.
The species remains anabiotic during harsh environmental changes.
Tardigrades can survive extreme conditions by entering an anabiotic state.
The species remains anabiotic during harsh environmental changes.
Many plants enter an anabiotic phase during drought.

Antonyms

active

232 1.0

Operating now and not stopped

animated

23 3.7

Being full of life and energy

How Dormant

anabiotic

Specialized

9.9

dormant

15 4.0

active

56 3.8

Surface Forms

anabiotic positive

Morphology

anabiotic = biotic (semi-transparent) = ana + biotic

Built from the productive element 'biotic' with the prefix 'ana-'; the relation to 'life' is clear but the specific sense 'suspended animation' (anabiosis) is not obvious to most learners.

Etymology

Anabiotic comes from the Greek parts ana- 'again' and bio- 'life', and you can see bio in the familiar word biology. So an anabiotic state is like life being 'paused' so an organism can 'start again' later, which is why some animals survive extreme conditions by entering this dormant condition.