incubation

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌɪnkjʊˈbeɪʃ^ən/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˌɪnkjəˈbeɪʃən, ˌɪŋ-/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(in′kyə bā′shən, ing′-)

in•cu•ba•tion (in′kyə bā′shən, ing′-),USA pronunciation n.

in•cu•bate /ˈɪnkyəˌbeɪt, ˈɪŋ-/USA pronunciation v., -bat•ed, -bat•ing.

Zoology to sit on (eggs) for hatching:[~ + object]The bird incubated its eggs.
Zoologyto (cause eggs to) hatch, as by artificial heat: [~ + object]incubated the eggs by warming them.[no object]The eggs were incubating in that warm environment.
[~ + object] to keep in a favorable condition to promote development, as for prematurely born infants.

in•cu•ba•tion /ˌɪnkyəˈbeɪʃən, ˌɪŋ-/USA pronunciation n. [uncountable]That disease has a long incubation period.

in•cu•bate (in′kyə bāt′, ing′-),USA pronunciation v., -bat•ed, -bat•ing.
v.t.

Zoologyto sit upon (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.
Zoologyto hatch (eggs), as by sitting upon them or by artificial heat.
to maintain at a favorable temperature and in other conditions promoting development, as cultures of bacteria or prematurely born infants.
to develop or produce as if by hatching;
give form to:His brain was incubating schemes for raising money.

v.i.

Latin incubātus past participle of incubāre to lie or recline on, to sit on (eggs), equivalent. to in- in-² + cub(āre) to sit, lie down + -ātus -ate¹; compare incumbent, concubine
1635–45

in′cu•ba′tive, adj.

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