incubation
noun /ˌɪŋkjuˈbeɪʃn/
/ˌɪŋkjuˈbeɪʃn/
- [uncountable] the hatching of eggs
- artificial incubation (= using artificial warmth)
- [countable] (also incubation period)(medical or biology) the time between somebody catching a disease and the appearance of the first symptoms
- The incubation period of the virus is 24 to 48 hours.
- [uncountable] (biology) the development and growth of bacteria, etc.Topics Biologyc2
Word Originearly 17th cent.: from Latin incubatio(n-) ‘brooding’, from the verb incubare, from in- ‘upon’ + cubare ‘to lie’.