diestrual

9.9

A period when an animal is not sexually active between heat cycles

adjective
/ˌdaɪˈɛstruəl/

Specialized

: diestro

After ovulation, the hamster enters the diestrual phase, during which sexual receptivity ceases temporarily.

Examples

Wild mice alternate between estrous and diestrual phases throughout the breeding season.
The female dog is in a diestrual phase after her heat cycle.
A diestrual period allows the reproductive system to rest before the next estrus cycle begins.
During the diestrual period, no mating occurs.
A diestrual period allows the reproductive system to rest before the next estrus cycle begins.
After ovulation, the hamster enters the diestrual phase, during which sexual receptivity ceases temporarily.
During the diestrual period, no mating occurs.

Synonyms

diestrous

vsdiestrual

Specialized

9.9

In female animals, a non-fertile time between two fertile periods in the mating season

is about the inactive time between cycles within a single breeding season

anestrous

vsdiestrual

Specialized

9.9

A female mammal that is not in heat or able to get pregnant

is the inactive interval specifically between estrous cycles during a breeding season

Surface Forms

diestrual positive

Morphology

diestrual = diestrus (opaque) = di + estrus + al

The word is a regular adjective formed from the technical noun 'diestrus' by adding the suffix '-al'.

Etymology

Diestrual comes from the same root as estrous ('in heat') and means the quiet time when an animal is not ready to mate between periods of heat. A helpful way to remember it is to think of diestrual as the 'rest' phase of the reproductive cycle before the next fertile time.