dormant
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.not active at the moment but able to become active again later.
adj.temporarily inactive or in a state of suspended animation, though capable of being reactivated.
Simple“The volcano has been dormant for hundreds of years, but scientists still watch it closely.”
In context“The bank notified the customer that her account had become dormant due to three years of total inactivity, requiring a formal request to reactivate it.”
Usageoften used to describe volcanoes, seeds, or financial accounts.
- 02 C1 Advanced
adj.when a plant or animal slows down its body to survive cold or dry weather.
adj.relating to a state of minimal metabolic activity, typically as a survival strategy during unfavourable environmental conditions.
Simple“Many trees stay dormant during the winter to save energy until spring.”
In context“Certain desert seeds can remain dormant in the parched soil for decades, only germinating when a rare heavy rainfall provides sufficient moisture.”
Usagefrequently used in botany and zoology.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a large, heavy piece of wood or metal used to support a floor or roof.
n.a primary horizontal structural member, such as a large crossbeam or joist, used in traditional timber framing.
Simple“The builders placed a thick oak dormant across the room to hold up the ceiling.”
In context“During the restoration of the medieval manor, the architects discovered that the original chestnut dormant had suffered significant rot and required reinforcement.”
Usageprimarily found in historical architectural contexts or technical restoration manuals.
From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin dormiēns, present participle of dormiō (“I sleep”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.