Dictionary.com

incubation

[ in-kyuh-bey-shuhn, ing- ]
/ ˌɪn kyəˈbeɪ ʃən, ˌɪŋ- /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for incubation on Thesaurus.com
noun
the act or process of incubating.
the state of being incubated.
incubation period.
QUIZ
SPRINT TO THE FINISH WITH THIS OLYMPICS QUIZ!
Compete in our Olympics quiz to see if you can take home the gold medal in Olympics knowledge.
Question 1 of 10
Where was the Olympics first held?
ancient Rome
ancient Greece
ancient Persia
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Meet Grammar CoachWrite or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar helpImprove Your Writing
Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing
Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Origin of incubation

First recorded in 1605–15, incubation is from the Latin word incubātiōn- (stem of incubātiō). See incubate, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM incubation

in·cu·ba·tion·al, in·cu·ba·to·ry [in-kyuh-buh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, ing-], /ˈɪn kyə bəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈɪŋ-/, adjective

Words nearby incubation

incrossbred, in-crowd, incrust, incrustation, incubate, incubation, incubation patch, incubation period, incubative stage, incubator, incubous
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to incubation

training, groundwork, establishment, study, arrangement, rehearsal, preparedness, construction, formation, plan, qualification, measure, education, precaution, rundown, anticipation, basis, fitting, alertness, manufacture

How to use incubation in a sentence

Medical definitions for incubation

incubation
[ ĭn′kyə-bā′shən, ĭng′- ]
n.
The act of incubating or the state of being incubated.
The maintenance of controlled environmental conditions for the purpose of favoring the growth or development of microbial or tissue cultures.
The maintenance of an infant, especially a premature infant, in an environment of controlled temperature, humidity, and oxygen concentration in order to provide optimal conditions for growth and development.
The development of an infection from the time the pathogen enters the body until signs or symptoms first appear.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for incubation

incubation
[ ĭn′kyə-bā′shən ]
The act of warming eggs in order to hatch them, as by a bird sitting upon a clutch of eggs in a nest.
The act of keeping an organism, a cell, or cell culture in conditions favorable for growth and development.
The maintenance of an infant, especially one that is ill or born before the usual gestation period, in an environment of controlled temperature, humidity, and oxygen concentration in order to provide optimal conditions for growth and development.
The development of an infection from the time the pathogen enters the body until signs or symptoms first appear.

Other words from incubation

incubate verb
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
FEEDBACK