INCUBATION
incubation
(noun) maintaining something at the most favorable temperature for its development
brooding, incubation
(noun) sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
incubation
(noun) (pathology) the phase in the development of an infection between the time a pathogen enters the body and the time the first symptoms appear
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
incubation (countable and uncountable, plural incubations)
Sitting on eggs for the purpose of hatching young; a brooding on, or keeping warm, to develop the life within, by any process.
(pathology) The development of a disease from its causes, or the period of such development.
(chemistry) A period of little reaction which is followed by more rapid reaction.
(psychology) One of the four proposed stages of creativity (preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification): the unconscious recombination of thought elements that were stimulated through conscious work at one point in time, resulting in novel ideas at a later point.
Sleeping in a temple or other holy place in order to have oracular dreams or to receive healing.
Source: Wiktionary
In`cu*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. incubatio: cf. F. incubation.]
1. A sitting on eggs for the purpose of hatching young; a brooding on, or keeping warm, (eggs) to develop the life within, by any process. Ray.
2. (Med.)
Definition: The development of a disease from its causes, or its period of incubation. (See below.)
3. A sleeping in a consecrated place for the purpose of dreaming oracular dreams. Tylor. Period of incubation, or Stage of incubation (Med.), the period which elapses between exposure to the causes of a disease and the attack resulting from it; the time of development of the supposed germs or spores.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
10 June 2025
COMMUNICATIONS
(noun) the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.); “communications is his major field of study”
Do you know this game?
Wordscapes is a popular word game consistently in the top charts of both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The Android version has more than 10 million installs. This guide will help you get more coins in less than two minutes of playing the game. Continue reading Wordscapes: Get More Coins