hibernaculum
2
9.9
A place where animals sleep through winter to stay alive
- noun
- /ˌhaɪbərˈnækjʊləm/
- Specialized
:
hibernáculo
Examples
-
In the fall, they retreat to hibernaculum.
Blog text (25) -
Bats often retreat to a hibernaculum to avoid predators during the cold winter months.
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The researcher discovered a hidden hibernaculum where the turtles waited out the cold season.
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In the mountains, a hibernaculum provides a safe haven for bears during their long sleep.
Surface Forms
hibernaculum singular
hibernacula plural
Etymology
The word hibernaculum comes from the Latin root hibern- meaning 'winter' and the ending -aculum meaning 'place'. So a hibernaculum is literally a 'winter place' and the easy image is that it is a spot where animals sleep through the winter, just like when they hibernate.