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noun Uncommon

incubation

ihnk-yoo-BAY-shuhn

Incubation (noun) means the process of keeping eggs warm so they can develop and hatch. Example: “Chicken eggs need about 21 days of incubation before hatching.”

noun
1
The process of keeping eggs warm so they can develop and hatch.
"Chicken eggs need about 21 days of incubation before hatching."
2
The period during which a disease develops in the body before symptoms appear.
"The virus has an incubation period of roughly five days."

How to Use Incubation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA period of quiet development before something (an egg, an idea, a disease) becomes fully formed or visible.

Common pairings
incubation period egg incubation

Word Forms

incubations plural

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Chicken eggs need about 21 days of _____ before hatching.

Etymology

From Latin incubātiō, from incubāre ("to lie on, brood over").

Origin: Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for incubation

See all rhymes for incubation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “incubation” mean?

The word “incubation” means the process of keeping eggs warm so they can develop and hatch. In plain terms, a period of quiet development before something (an egg, an idea, a disease) becomes fully formed or visible.

How do you pronounce “incubation”?

“Incubation” is pronounced ihnk-yoo-BAY-shuhn (/ɪnkjuˈbeɪʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “incubation” in a sentence?

Here is “incubation” used in a sentence: “Chicken eggs need about 21 days of incubation before hatching.”

What part of speech is “incubation”?

“Incubation” is a noun.

Where does the word “incubation” come from?

The word “incubation” comes from Latin. From Latin incubātiō, from incubāre ("to lie on, brood over").

Is “incubation” a common word?

“Incubation” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “incubation” have?

“Incubation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of keeping eggs warm so they can develop and hatch.

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