[ 'ɪŋkjʊbeɪt ]
■ verb
1》 (of a bird) sit on (eggs) in order to keep them warm and bring them to hatching.
2》 develop (something, especially an infectious disease) slowly without outward or perceptible signs.
Derivatives
incubation noun
incubative adjective
incubatory 'ɪŋkjʊbeɪt(ə)ri adjective
Origin
C17: from L. incubat- , incubare 'lie on'.