Meaning: Trees are dormant during the cold season.
Choice of Words: Trees: tall plants with woody stems and branches; sleep: a state of rest for the body; winter's cold: the low temperatures of the winter season.
Alternative Expressions
Trees sleep in winter's cold.
Meaning: This sentence is a metaphor, which means it is not meant to be taken literally. It means that trees are not actually sleeping, but they look like they are because they have lost their leaves and are standing still in the cold winter weather.
Choice of Words:Trees are large plants that grow in the ground. Sleep means to rest and not move or be awake. Winter is a season that is cold and often snowy. Cold means a low temperature that makes you feel chilly.
Trees hibernate in winter's chill.
Meaning: This sentence is also a metaphor, but it is more accurate than the first one because trees do actually go into a state of hibernation during the winter. This means that they slow down their metabolism and enter a deep sleep in order to conserve energy.
Choice of Words:Hibernate means to sleep for a long time, especially during the winter. Chill means a cold feeling that makes you shiver.
Trees rest during the cold winter months.
Meaning: This sentence is the most literal of the three, and it simply means that trees stop growing and conserve their energy during the winter months because it is too cold for them to grow.
Choice of Words:Rest means to relax and not move or do anything. Months are periods of time that are each about 30 days long.