acclimatization

Definition

The biological adjustment process that occurs when an organism is plunked into a new environment and has to learn to deal with it. Whether it's humans adapting to high altitude or plants getting used to a new climate, it's nature's way of saying 'sink or swim, but I'll give you a grace period.' Scientists distinguish this from adaptation, but both essentially mean 'getting used to your new circumstances before you die.'

Example Usage

The mountaineers spent two weeks at base camp for acclimatization before attempting the summit.

Source: Biological and medical terminology

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