/ ˈɪŋkjubeɪt; NAmE / verb
1.
[ vn ] ( of a bird ) to sit on its eggs in order to keep them warm until they hatch
2.
[ vn ] ( biology ) to keep cells, bacteria, etc. at a suitable temperature so that they develop
3.
[ vn ] be incubating sth ( medical ) to have an infectious disease developing inside you before symptoms (= signs of illness) appear
4.
[ v ] ( medical ) ( of a disease ) to develop slowly without showing any signs
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from Latin incubat- lain on, from the verb incubare , from in- upon + cubare to lie.