/'ɪŋkjʊbeɪt; `ɪŋkjə,bet/
v
1 (a) [I, Tn] keep (eggs) warm, usu by sitting on them, until they hatch 孵（卵）; 孵化
*a bird incubating (her eggs) 正在孵卵的鸟.
(b) [I] (of eggs) be kept warm until ready to hatch （指卵）孵化.
2 [I, Tn] (medical or biology 医或生) (of bacteria, etc) develop under favourable conditions, esp heat; cause (bacteria, etc) to develop （指细菌等）培养; 使（细菌等）繁殖
*Some viruses incubate very rapidly. 有些病毒繁殖得很迅速.
* incubate germs in a laboratory 在实验室中培养细菌.
3 [I, Tn] (fig 比喻) (cause sth to) develop slowly and patiently （使某事物）逐渐发展, 酝酿
*plans for revolution that had long been incubating in their minds 他们心中酝酿已久的革命计画.

v [I and T]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin;Origin: , past participle of incubare 'to lie on', from cubare 'to lie']
if a bird incubates its eggs, or if the eggs incubate, they are kept warm until they hatch (=the birds inside are born)
technical if a disease incubates, or if you incubate it, it develops in your body until you show physical signs of it
>incubation [,ɪŋkjʊ'beɪʃən/