verb

incubate

Incubate (verb) means to brood, raise, or maintain eggs, organisms, or living tissue through the provision of ideal environmental conditions.

verb

To brood, raise, or maintain eggs, organisms, or living tissue through the provision of ideal environmental conditions.

To incubate metaphorically; to ponder an idea slowly and deliberately as if in preparation for hatching 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”).

Rhymes for incubate

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of incubate?

"incubate" (verb) means to brood, raise, or maintain eggs, organisms, or living tissue through the provision of ideal environmental conditions.

What are the different meanings of incubate?

"incubate" has 2 main meanings: 1. To brood, raise, or maintain eggs, organisms, or living tissue through the provision of ideal environmental conditions; 2. To incubate metaphorically; to ponder an idea slowly and deliberately as if in preparation for hatching it.