1. spends the summer in a dormant or inactive state to survive hot, dry conditions
Usage: biology; third person singular present tense

Examples

• The desert tortoise estivates underground during the hottest months.
• This species of snail estivates by sealing itself in its shell.
• The lungfish estivates in mud when water sources dry up.
• Many desert animals estivate to conserve water and energy.
• The ground squirrel estivates from July through September.
• When temperatures soar, the frog estivates beneath rocks.