hibernation
n. uncountablen. a long, deep sleep that some animals take during the winter to save energy. In computing, it is a mode where a computer saves its state and turns off to save power.
n. a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in endotherms, characterized by low body temperature and slow breathing. In a computing context, refers to a power-management mode that saves the contents of RAM to disk before shutting down.
Bears enter hibernation to survive the cold winter months.
The laptop enters hibernation automatically when the battery level drops below five percent to prevent data loss.
While true hibernation involves profound physiological changes, some species only enter a lighter state of torpor, allowing them to wake quickly if the ambient temperature rises unexpectedly.
From Latin hibernātus, from hibernō, from hībernus (“winter”).
Uncountable in its biological sense; often used with the verb 'to enter' or 'to emerge from'.