1. spending the summer in a dormant or inactive state to survive hot, dry conditions
Usage: biology; present participle of estivate

Examples

• The desert tortoise is estivating underground during the hottest months.
• Many snails survive drought by estivating in their shells.
• The lungfish was found estivating in dried mud.
• Certain frogs spend summer estivating beneath rocks.
• The researcher studied animals estivating in arid climates.
• Ground squirrels avoid extreme heat by estivating in burrows.