verb
incubate
Incubate (verb) means to keep eggs, organisms or living tissue under the right environmental conditions in order to hatch, grow or sustain them.
verb
1
To keep eggs, organisms or living tissue under the right environmental conditions in order to hatch, grow or sustain them.
"The mother dead these fourteen years did incubate in her own bosom the creature who would carry her off."
— Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian … (1985)
2
To let an idea develop slowly in your mind before acting on it.
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Etymology
First attested in 1641; borrowed from Latin incubātus, an alternative to incubitus, perfect passive participle of incubō (“to hatch”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from in- (“in”) + cubō (“to lie”).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for incubate
See all rhymes for incubate →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of incubate?
"incubate" (verb) means to keep eggs, organisms or living tissue under the right environmental conditions in order to hatch, grow or sustain them.
What is another word for incubate?
Other words for "incubate" include brood, hatch, cover.
What are the different meanings of incubate?
"incubate" has 2 main meanings: 1. To keep eggs, organisms or living tissue under the right environmental conditions in order to hatch, grow or sustain them; 2. To let an idea develop slowly in your mind before acting on it.
