es·ti·va·tion also aes·ti·va·tion ( s t -v  shn)n. 1. The act of spending or passing the summer. 2. Zoology A state of dormancy or torpor during the summer. 3. Botany The arrangement of flower parts in the bud. |
estivation [ˌiːstɪˈveɪʃən ˌɛs-]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) the usual US spelling of aestivation
| estivation (st-vshn) An inactive state resembling deep sleep, in which some animals living in hot climates, such as certain snails, pass the summer. Estivation protects these animals against heat and dryness. Compare hibernation. |
estivation, aestivation
Obsolete, summering; the taking of a summer holiday.
See also: Recreationthe arrangement of petals in a flower before it opens; prefloration. Also aestivation.
See also: Flowersthe practice of certain animals of sleeping throughout the summer. Cf. hibernation.
See also: Zoology
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  estivation - (zoology) cessation or slowing of activity during the summer; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals during a hot or dry periodzoological science, zoology - the branch of biology that studies animals dormancy, quiescence, quiescency - a state of quiet (but possibly temporary) inaction; "the volcano erupted after centuries of dormancy" |
| 2. |  estivation - (botany) the arrangement of sepals and petals in a flower bud before it opensarrangement - an orderly grouping (of things or persons) considered as a unit; the result of arranging; "a flower arrangement" flower bud - a bud from which only a flower or flowers develop |
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