incubate - definition, synonyms and pronunciation

Open English WordNet

Verb (2)incubated, incubating

grow under conditions that promote developmentMore general develop
sit on (eggs)“Birds brood”“The female covers the eggs”Synonyms: brood hatch coverMore general reproduce, procreateInvolves sit down, sitSimilar hatch, breed

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

In′cu·bate intransitive & transitive verb [past tense & past participle Incubated; present participle & verbal noun Incubating.]

Origin: L. incubatus, p. p. incubare to lie on; pref. in- in, on + cubare to lie down. Cf. Cubit, Incumbent.

1. To sit, as on eggs for hatching; to brood; to brood upon, or keep warm, as eggs, for the purpose of hatching.

2. To maintain (a living organism, such as microorganisms or a premature baby) under appropriate conditions, such as of temperature, humidity, or atmospheric composition, for growth; as, coliform bacteria grow best when incubated at 37° C..

3. To develop gradually in some interior environment, until fully formed; as, the ideas for his book were incubating for two years before he began to write.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: GCIDE editors