a period of suspended development and growth accompanied by decreased metabolism in insects and some other animals. It is correlated with seasonal changes
Word origin
C19: from Greek diapausis pause, from diapauein to pause, bring to an end, from dia- + pauein to stop
diapause in American English
(ˈdaɪəˌpɔz)
US
noun
a period of delayed development or growth accompanied by reduced metabolism and inactivity, esp. in certaininsects, snails, etc.
Word origin
Gr diapausis, a pause < diapauein, to bring to an end, pause: see dia- & pause