dormant

/ˈdɔrmənt/

/ˈdɔmənt/

Other forms: dormantly

That old dog was dormant for so long he was confused for a furry doormat, but a doormat is likely to stay dormant, or inactive, because it is lifeless: that old dog has some life in him yet.

Volcanoes are described as dormant when they stay cool for a long time, without spewing hot lava and ash. They may have the ability to come to life, but they remain dormant, or inactive. Dormant comes from French dormir, "to sleep," and it refers to living things that are on a break rather than things that have died. Being dormant is being temporarily at rest, although sometimes, as with some cancer cells, things become permanently — and thankfully — dormant.

Definitions of dormant

1. adjective

   inactive but capable of becoming active
   “her feelings of affection are dormant but easily awakened”

   synonyms: abeyant

   inactive

   not active physically or mentally
2. adjective

   in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
   “dormant buds”

   synonyms: hibernating, torpid

   asleep

   in a state of sleep
3. adjective

   (of e.g. volcanos) not erupting but not extinct
   “a dormant volcano”

   synonyms: inactive

   quiescent

   being quiet or still or inactive

   antonyms:

   active

   (of e.g. volcanos) erupting or liable to erupt

   eruptive

   actively spewing out lava
4. adjective

   (heraldry) lying with head on paws as if sleeping
   synonyms: sleeping

   unerect

   not upright in position or posture