incubate
verb
UK/ˈɪŋ.kjə.beɪt/
US/ˈɪŋ.kjə.beɪt/
Definitions of incubate verb
egg
- TransitiveIntransitive
To keep eggs warm, whether by a bird or artificially, until they hatch; to develop from an egg into a young animal.
Many birds begin to incubate their eggs after building a nest.
Some reptiles lay their eggs in the sand, relying on the sun's warmth to incubate them.
The chicken eggs incubated for 21 days in the incubator.
disease
- TransitiveIntransitive
To develop and grow within a host's body without showing symptoms of illness; to allow harmful bacteria or viruses to multiply in the body.
The virus can incubate in the body for several days before symptoms appear.
The incubation period for this disease is about two weeks.
Bacteria will incubate rapidly under suitable conditions.