Dictionary
in•cu•bate
Pronunciation: (in'kyu-bāt", ing'-), [key]
—v., -bat•ed, -bat•ing.
—
v.t.
1. to sit upon (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.
2. to hatch (eggs), as by sitting upon them or by artificial heat.
3. to maintain at a favorable temperature and in other conditions promoting development, as cultures of bacteria or prematurely born infants.
4. to develop or produce as if by hatching; give form to:
His brain was incubating schemes for raising money.
—
v.i.
1. to sit upon eggs.
2. to undergo incubation.
3. to develop; grow; take form:
A plan was slowly incubating in her mind. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.