anabiosis
/ˌænəbaɪˈoʊsɪs/
noun
- A state of suspended animation or extreme dormancy in which an organism's vital processes slow down or stop, allowing it to survive harsh conditions.
- The frog's anabiosis during winter helps it endure freezing temperatures.
- Scientists study anabiosis in tardigrades to understand extreme survival.
- Some microscopic animals can enter anabiosis and survive for decades without water.
Antonyms