Incubation

Pronunciation: /ˌɪŋkjuːˈbeɪʃən/

Incubation (noun)

  1. The process of keeping eggs warm until young birds or reptiles come out.
  2. The time between catching a disease and showing symptoms.
  3. The period when an idea or plan is developing before it is fully formed.

Examples

  • The incubation of the eggs took several weeks.
  • During incubation, the temperature must be carefully controlled.

Common collocations: incubation period, control incubation, incubation phase, monitor incubation, incubation stage

Synonyms of Incubation

Formal

Neutral

Antonyms of Incubation

  • — referring to lack of development
  • — referring to backward development