ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈbāshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin incubation-, incubatio, from incubatus + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : the act or process of incubating (as eggs, bacteria, or milk)
during the incubation of the culture
2. : the act or an instance of brooding over something in order to give it form and substance
definitely named the four stages of creative thought as preparation, incubation , illumination, and verification — R.S.Woodworth
3. : the period between the infection of a plant or animal by a pathogen and the manifestation of the disease it causes
4. : a rite among the ancient Greeks and Romans of sleeping on a skin or on the ground in order to enter into communion with the chthonic gods through dreams