GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found one definition

1.       
   Incubate , v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Incubated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Incubating .] [L. incubatus, p. p. incubare to lie on; pref. in- in, on + cubare to lie down.  Cf. Cubit, Incumbent.]
   To sit, as on eggs for hatching; to brood; to brood upon, or keep warm, as eggs, for the purpose of hatching.
   1913 Webster
   To maintain (a living organism, such as microorganisms or a premature baby) under appropriate conditions, such as of temperature, humidity, or atmospheric composition, for growth; as, coliform bacteria grow best when incubated at 37° C..
   PJC
   To develop gradually in some interior environment, until fully formed; as, the ideas for his book were incubating for two years before he began to write.
   PJC