dormancy

dor·mant  (dôrmnt)

adj.

1. Lying asleep or as if asleep; inactive.

2. Latent but capable of being activated: "a harrowing experience which . . . lay dormant but still menacing" (Charles Jackson).

3. Temporarily quiescent: a dormant volcano. See Synonyms at inactive, latent.

4. In a condition of biological rest or inactivity characterized by cessation of growth or development and the suspension of many metabolic processes.

---

[Middle English, from Old French, from present participle of dormir, to sleep, from Latin dormre.]

---

dorman·cy n.

---

dormancy

the state of being dormant or inert.

See also: Sleep

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	dormancy - a state of quiet (but possibly temporary) inaction; "the volcano erupted after centuries of dormancy" quiescence, quiescency inaction, inactiveness, inactivity - the state of being inactive hibernation - cessation from or slowing of activity during the winter; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals aestivation, estivation - (zoology) cessation or slowing of activity during the summer; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals during a hot or dry period slumber - a dormant or quiescent state
	2.	dormancy - quiet and inactive restfulness quiescence, quiescency, sleeping repose, rest, ease, relaxation - freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility); "took his repose by the swimming pool" vegetation - inactivity that is passive and monotonous, comparable to the inactivity of plant life; "their holiday was spent in sleep and vegetation"