verb
- spends the summer in a dormant or inactive state to survive hot, dry conditions
Usage: biological term; third person singular present
Examples
- The desert tortoise aestivates underground during the hottest months.
- This species of snail aestivates by sealing itself inside its shell.
- The lungfish aestivates in mud cocoons when water sources dry up.
- Many desert animals aestivate to conserve water and energy.
- The ground squirrel aestivates from July through September.
- Some frogs aestivate buried in sand until the rains return.