in‧cu‧bate /ˈɪŋkjəbeɪt, ˈɪŋkjʊbeɪt/ verb [intransitive and transitive]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: past participle of incubare 'to lie on', from cubare 'to lie']

1. if a bird incubates its eggs, or if the eggs incubate, they are kept warm until they hatch (=the birds inside are born)

2. medical if a disease incubates, or if you incubate it, it develops in your body until you show physical signs of it
—incubation /ˌɪŋkjəˈbeɪʃən, ˌɪŋkjʊˈbeɪʃən/ noun [uncountable]:
Hepatitis has a long incubation period.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲