Etymology From over- + winter. Compare Dutch overwinteren, German überwintern.
1
To keep or preserve for the winter.
It is best to overwinter tender plants indoors.
Well, if you're fortunate, you'll be able to overwinter your bees and keep them alive during the winter months.2014, Philip Hasheider, Samantha Johnson, The Complete Illustrated Guide to Farming, page 114:
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We overwinter our blueberry bushes in an unheated greenhouse, but when re-tubbed this year they will be too big to move. What are their chances of surviving winter outside?2014 April 8, Helen Yemm, “Thorny problems: How can I revive a forsythia hedge? [print version 5 April 2014, p. G9]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Gardening), London:
2
To spend the winter (in a particular place).
Insects may overwinter in fallen fruit if it is not removed.
Fish only overwinter in streams having a sufficient source of groundwater.1975, Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System:
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Different insects also differ in the way in which they overwinter. Most insects overwinter as eggs or pupae, but others overwinter as larvae or nymphs, whilst quite a few hibernate in the adult phase.2011, Bob Gibbons, Field Guide to Insects of Britain and Northern Europe:
'Early Purple Sprouting' broccoli is so hardy you can let it overwinter and it rewards you with—yes, you guessed it—early purple sprouts that are tender and delicious.2012, Marie Iannotti, The Beginner's Guide to Growing Heirloom Vegetables:
Etymology From over- + winter. Compare Dutch overwinteren, German überwintern.
1
Occurring over the winter season.
The effect of seedling size on overwinter injury was analyzed separately by analysis of covariance.1996, Marek Jacek Krasowski, Measures to Reduce Overwinter Injury to Planted Spruce in Boreal Forest of British Columbia, page 4:
Overwinter survival ranged from 0% to 100% and increased with increasing fall total length and winter temperatures among all cohorts and reservoirs.2012, Issues in Global Environment:
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A replicated site comparison study on 1, 031 agricultural sites across England in 2004–2008 (29) found that in three out of four year-on-year comparisons, grey partridge Perdix perdix density changes and overwinter survival were higher on sites under agri-environment schemes, than on sites not under schemes (density changes were more positive on agri-environment scheme sites than non-agi-environment scheme sites in all comparisons except 2007-2008; overwinter survival was higher for all except 2006-2007).2013, David R. Williams, Robert G. Pople, David A. Showler, Bird Conservation:
overwinter
adv
Etymology From over- + winter. Compare Dutch overwinteren, German überwintern.
1
During the winter.
Ground cover of perennial grasses declined seriously under plots covered overwinter with dead thistle plants.1968, Earl F. Aldon, Detrimental Effect of Russian thistle on Semidesert Range in West Central New Mexico:
Moreover, each year of continuous corn cropping the corn stover would be turned under by fall plowing in preparation for the next spring planting, leaving the land bare overwinter.1985, Technologies to Benefit Agriculture and Wildlife, page 63:
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The copepod Thermocyclops oithonoides rests overwinter as copepodids in lake mud in the Mugglesee and other lakes in Europe.2014, Lee Hannah, Climate Change Biology, page 95: