dormancy

/ˈdɔːmənsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɔːrmənsi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdȯr-mən(t)-sē/ (ame, mw)

dormancy — noun

1. a temporary condition in which a living thing, a volcano, or an economic system

1.名詞B2
釋義

a temporary condition in which a living thing, a volcano, or an economic system stops growing or showing activity, but remains able to become active again when conditions change.

例句

The Watanabe family's garden went into dormancy after the first frost of November.

go into dormancy + seasonal trigger

Scientists say the volcano has been in dormancy for nearly four hundred years.

in + dormancy + time period

同義詞
  • inactivity

    broader — can describe anything not moving or working, not necessarily able to resume

  • latency

    more technical; describes a hidden state where something exists but is not yet expressed (e.g., a virus)

  • hibernation

    specific to animal winter sleep; not used for plants, volcanoes, or systems

  • suspension

    temporary stop imposed by an external decision, not a natural biological state

反義詞
  • activity

    the state of being active and growing

  • activation

    the process of becoming active again

文法句型

dormancy of [something]

enter/go into dormancy

period/state of dormancy

用法筆記

Commonly paired with 'enter', 'go into', or 'break' to describe the beginning or end of the inactive period. Subject is typically a natural phenomenon (volcano, seed, virus) or a system (economy, market).

常見錯誤

❌The volcano is in dormancy for centuries.
✅The volcano has been in dormancy for centuries.
💡Use present perfect, not present simple, when describing a state that started in the past and continues.
❌The rabbit went into dormancy for the winter.
✅The bear went into dormancy for the winter.
💡'Dormancy' is usually for whole organisms or systems; for short seasonal sleep, use 'hibernation' for animals.