Main Entry: in·cu·bate

Pronunciation: \ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt, ˈin-\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): in·cu·bat·ed; in·cu·bat·ing

Etymology: Latin incubatus, past participle of incubare, from in- + cubare to lie

Date: 1641

transitive verb 1 a : to sit on (eggs) so as to hatch by the warmth of the body b : to maintain (as an embryo or a chemically active system) under conditions favorable for hatching, development, or reaction
2 : to cause or aid the development of <incubate an idea>intransitive verb 1 : to sit on eggs
2 : to undergo incubation : develop

— in·cu·ba·tive \-ˌbā-tiv\ adjective

— in·cu·ba·to·ry \-kyə-bə-ˌtȯr-ē, -ˌbā-tə-rē\ adjective