Incubate Definition

ĭnkyə-bāt, ĭng-
incubated, incubates, incubating
verb
incubated, incubates, incubating
To keep (eggs, embryos, bacteria, etc.) in a favorable environment for hatching or developing.
Webster's New World
To maintain (eggs, organisms, or living tissue) at optimal environmental conditions for growth and development.
American Heritage
To maintain (a chemical or biochemical system) under specific conditions in order to promote a particular reaction.
American Heritage
To cause to develop or take form, as by thought or planning.
Webster's New World
To sit on and hatch (eggs)
Webster's New World
Synonyms:

Origin of Incubate

  • From Latin incubatus, past participle of incubare (“to hatch”), from Latin in- (“on”) and cubare (“to lie”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Latin incubāre incubāt- to lie down on in- on in–2 cubāre to lie down

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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