cryptobiosis
|crypt-o-bi-o-sis|
🇺🇸
/ˌkrɪptoʊbaɪˈoʊsɪs/
🇬🇧
/ˌkrɪptəʊbaɪˈəʊsɪs/
hidden life-state
Etymology
'cryptobiosis' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'kryptos' and 'bios', where 'kryptos' meant 'hidden' and 'bios' meant 'life', and the suffix '-osis' indicated a condition or state.
'cryptobiosis' was formed in scientific New Latin from the Greek roots 'kryptos' + 'bios' and was adopted into English scientific usage in the 20th century as the term 'cryptobiosis'.
Initially it literally meant 'hidden life', but over time it evolved to mean 'a reversible suspension of metabolic activity allowing survival in extreme conditions'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a state in which an organism's metabolic processes are reduced to an undetectable level (reversible suspension of metabolism) allowing survival under extreme environmental conditions.
Tardigrades can survive extreme conditions by entering cryptobiosis.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/29 00:42