Definition of Incubation

1. Noun. Maintaining something at the most favorable temperature for its development.

Generic synonyms: Aid, Attention, Care, Tending
Derivative terms: Incubate

2. Noun. (pathology) the phase in the development of an infection between the time a pathogen enters the body and the time the first symptoms appear.
Category relationships: Pathology
Group relationships: Infection
Generic synonyms: Phase, Stage
Derivative terms: Incubate

3. Noun. Sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body.
Exact synonyms: Brooding
Generic synonyms: Birth, Birthing, Giving Birth, Parturition
Derivative terms: Incubate

Definition of Incubation

1. n. A sitting on eggs for the purpose of hatching young; a brooding on, or keeping warm, (eggs) to develop the life within, by any process.

Definition of Incubation

1. Noun. Sitting on eggs for the purpose of hatching young; a brooding on, or keeping warm, to develop the life within, by any process. ¹

2. Noun. (pathology) The development of a disease from its causes, or its period of incubation. (See below.) ¹

3. Noun. (chemistry) A period of little reaction which is followed by more rapid reaction. ¹

4. Noun. Sleeping in a temple or other holy place in order to have oracular dreams. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Incubation

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Incubation

1. The development of an infectious disease from the entrance of the pathogen to the appearance of clinical symptoms. Origin: L. Incubatio (13 Nov 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Incubation

incrustation
incrustations
incrusted
incrusted cystitis
incrusting
incrustment
incrustments
incrusts
incrystallizable
incuba
incubae
incubate
incubated
incubates
incubating
incubation (current term)
incubation period
incubation time
incubations
incubative
incubative stage
incubator
incubators
incubatory
incubatory carrier
incubi
incubiture
incubous
incubuses

Literary usage of Incubation

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Dictionary of Science, Literature, & Art: Comprising the Definitions and by George William Cox (1866)
"Another characteristic of true incubation is that the place of the eggs determines that of the incubator, which can only perform its office by lying down ..."

2. Abstracts of the Papers Printed in the Philosophical Transactions of the by Royal Society (Great Britain) (1833)
"That in the earlier stages of incubation an interchange of principle takes place between ... That as incubation proceeds, the phosphorus of the yolk becomes ..."

3. The Practitioner by Gale Group, ProQuest Information and Learning Company (1893)
"The incubation-period of scarlet fever, for instance, has been variously ... The number of cases in which the period of incubation terminates on the second ..."

4. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1892)
"Prognosis is said to be favorable, and treatment much more successful than in the adult. UNUSUALLY SHORT incubation OF SCARLATINA. BOKAI (Archiv f. ..."

5. Cyclopedia of American Agriculture: A Popular Survey of Agricultural by Liberty Hyde Bailey (1908)
"incubation. The essential feature of incubation is to apply to the egg a ... There is a theory that the heat of the sun is sufficient for incubation in ..."

6. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease by American Neurological Association, Philadelphia Neurological Society, Chicago Neurological Society, New York Neurological Association, Boston Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (1916)
"incubation period of tabes: This is calculated from the statements of in persons ... The incubation period ranges from three years to forty-five (i case), ..."

7. Medico-physical Works: Being a Translation of Tractatus Quinque Medico-physici by John Mayow (1908)
"For we remark that the aforesaid cavity is greatly enlarged after a few days' incubation, as will be manifest if the blunt end of the egg is perforated. ..."

8. The Pathology and treatment of venereal diseases: Including the Results of by Freeman Josiah Bumstead (1870)
"As I shall show in another chapter, the chancre produced by inoculation of the secretion of secondary symptoms undoubtedly has a period of incubation, ..."

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