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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- incubations
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").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for incubation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
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.
