suspended animation

noun
UK: /səˌspendɪd ænɪˈmeɪʃən/
US: /səˌspendɪd ænɪˈmeɪʃən/

  1. A state in which someone or something seems dead or not living, but could return to life or activity later.

    1. The scientist put the cells into suspended animation for research.
    2. The astronauts were placed in suspended animation for the long journey to Mars so they would not age.

  2. A temporary state in which life processes (such as breathing and heartbeat) are slowed and can be started again later.

    1. The frog enters suspended animation during the cold winter months.
    2. Cryonics companies offer suspended animation as a way to potentially cheat death, awaiting future revival technologies.

Synonyms

cryopreservation torpor
suspended animation transitive-verb

  1. To put something into a state resembling death or inactivity, with the potential for revival.

    1. The doctor hoped to suspended animation the patient until a donor organ arrived.
    2. Scientists explore methods to suspended animation organs for longer preservation before transplant.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "suspended animation" in English means: A state in which someone or something seems dead or not living, but could return to life or activity later., A temporary state in which life processes (such as breathing and heartbeat) are slowed and can be started again later..

The phonetic transcription of "suspended animation" is /səˌspendɪd ænɪˈmeɪʃən/ in British English and /səˌspendɪd ænɪˈmeɪʃən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "suspended animation": cryopreservation, torpor.

Example usage of "suspended animation": "The scientist put the cells into suspended animation for research.". More examples on the page.