incubate
(redirected from be incubating)Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical.
incubate
to hatch eggs by sitting on them or by artificial heat; to develop, grow, take form: Her plan would slowly incubate in her mind.
Not to be confused with:
intubate – to insert a tube into the larynx or the like, as in a medical procedure: The doctor had to intubate the patient.
in·cu·bate
(ĭn′kyə-bāt′, ĭng′-)v. in·cu·bat·ed, in·cu·bat·ing, in·cu·bates
v.tr.
1. To sit on (eggs) to provide heat, so as to promote embryonic development and the hatching of young; brood.
2.
a. To maintain (eggs, organisms, or living tissue) at optimal environmental conditions for growth and development.
b. To maintain (a chemical or biochemical system) under specific conditions in order to promote a particular reaction.
3. To be infected with (a pathogen) before manifesting signs or symptoms of an infectious disease.
4. To form or consider slowly and protectively, as if hatching: incubated the idea for a while, then announced it.
v.intr.
1. To brood eggs.
2. To develop and hatch.
3. To undergo incubation.
[Latin incubāre, incubāt-, to lie down on : in-, on; see in-2 + cubāre, to lie down.]
in′cu·ba′tive adj.
incubate
(ˈɪnkjʊˌbeɪt)vb
1. (Zoology) (of birds) to supply (eggs) with heat for their development, esp by sitting on them
2. (Zoology) to cause (eggs, embryos, bacteria, etc) to develop, esp in an incubator or culture medium
3. (Zoology) (intr) (of eggs, embryos, bacteria, etc) to develop in favourable conditions, esp in an incubator
4. (Microbiology) (intr) (of disease germs) to remain inactive in an animal or human before causing disease
5. to develop or cause to develop gradually; foment or be fomented
[C18: from Latin incubāre to lie upon, hatch, from in-2 + cubāre to lie down]
ˌincuˈbation n
ˌincuˈbational adj
ˈincuˌbative, ˈincuˌbatory adj
in•cu•bate
(ˈɪn kyəˌbeɪt, ˈɪŋ-)v. -bat•ed, -bat•ing. v.t.
1. to sit on (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.
2. to hatch (eggs), as by sitting on them or by artificial heat.
3. to maintain at a favorable temperature and in other conditions promoting development, as prematurely born infants.
4. to develop or produce as if by hatching: pranksters incubating new schemes.
v.i. 5. to sit on eggs.
6. to undergo incubation.
[1635–45; < Latin incubātus, past participle of incubāre to lie or recline on, sit on (eggs) =in- in-2 + cubāre to lie down]
in′cu•ba`tive, adj.
in·cu·bate
(ĭn′kyə-bāt′)1. To warm and hatch eggs by bodily heat; to brood.
2. To keep an organism, a cell, or cell cultures in conditions favorable for growth and development. ♦ The incubation of a disease is the period between the time of infection and the time the first symptoms appear. ♦ An incubator is an insulated device in which organisms, cells, or cell cultures are kept at a constant temperature and humidity.
incubate
, incubation - Latin incubare, the source of incubate, literally meant "lie down on"; incubation once had the sense of sleeping in a sacred place or temple for oracular purposes.See also related terms for sleeping.
incubate
Past participle: incubated
Gerund: incubating
| Imperative |
|---|
| incubate |
| incubate |
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | incubate - grow under conditions that promote development develop - grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment; "A flower developed on the branch"; "The country developed into a mighty superpower"; "The embryo develops into a fetus"; "This situation has developed over a long time" |
| 2. | incubate - sit on (eggs); "Birds brood"; "The female covers the eggs" procreate, reproduce, multiply - have offspring or produce more individuals of a given animal or plant; "The Bible tells people to procreate" hatch - emerge from the eggs; "young birds, fish, and reptiles hatch" |
Translations
يَحْضِن البَكْتيريايُفَرِّخ
líhnoutrodit sesedět na vejcíchzrát
inkubereudruge
lappang
ganga meî sóttliggja á; unga út
inkubacijainkubatoriusišperėtipereiti inkubacinį laikotarpįperėjimas
atrasties inkubācijas periodāperēt
umelo vyliahnuť
kuluçka dönemi geçirmekkuluçkaya yatmak
incubate
[ˈɪnkjʊˌbeɪt]1. vt (eggs) → covare
2. vi (egg) → essere in incubazione; (disease) → avere un'incubazione
incubate
(ˈiŋkjubeit) verb1. to produce (young birds) from eggs by sitting on them or by keeping them warm by some other means.
2. (of germs or disease) to develop until signs of the disease appear. How long does chickenpox take to incubate?
ˌincuˈbation nounˈincubator noun
a heated box-like apparatus for hatching eggs or a similar one for rearing premature babies etc.