noun

• The state of being quiescent; dormancy.
• Being at rest, quiet, still, inactive or motionless.
• The action of bringing something to rest or making it quiescent; the action of coming to rest or to a quiescent state.
• (microbiology) The period when a cell is in a term of no growth and no division.
• (entomology) In insects, a temporary slowing down of metabolism and development in response to adverse environmental conditions, which, unlike diapause, does not involve physiological changes.