Incubation
Incubation , noun
[Latin incubatio: compare French incubation.]
1.
A sitting on eggs for the purpose of hatching young; a brooding on, or keeping warm, (eggs) to develop the life within, by any process. — Ray
2.
(Medicine) The development of a disease from its causes, or its period of incubation. (See below.)
3.
A sleeping in a consecrated place for the purpose of dreaming oracular dreams. — Tylor
4.
The maintenance (of a living organism, such as microorganisms or a premature baby) in appropriate conditions, such as of temperature, humidity, or atmospheric composition, for growth.
5.
The gradual development in some interior environment, until fully formed; as, the incubation time for developing a new drug may be longer than ten years from its first discovery.
Collocations (1)
Period of incubation or Stage of incubation (Medicine) , the period which elapses between exposure to the causes of an infectious disease and the attack resulting from it; the time during which an infective agent must grow in the body before producing overt symptoms of disease.