incubate
verb
in·cu·bate
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt 
ˈin-
incubated; incubating
1
a
: to sit on (eggs) so as to hatch by the warmth of the body
b
: to maintain (something, such 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
Examples of incubate in a Sentence
The female bird incubates the eggs.
Researchers incubated the cells in the laboratory.
The cultures must incubate for five more days.
The virus will incubate in the body for several days before the patient experiences any symptoms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Catch up quick: Henderson incubated the company at the software giant SAP and spun it out as a separate business in 2016.
—
Richard Collings, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024
By the second half of 2022, Zach Bryan and Omar Apollo had exploded, and the company was incubating several additions to this regime’s ongoing streak of nine Grammy best new artist nominees.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 7 Dec. 2024
The mating season is between October and November and the species often spends a little more than half of the year at the refuge, incubating and raising their chick.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
The researchers found that the fungus and wood need to be incubated together for three months in a very moist environment.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incubate 
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Richard Collings, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024
By the second half of 2022, Zach Bryan and Omar Apollo had exploded, and the company was incubating several additions to this regime’s ongoing streak of nine Grammy best new artist nominees.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 7 Dec. 2024
The mating season is between October and November and the species often spends a little more than half of the year at the refuge, incubating and raising their chick.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
The researchers found that the fungus and wood need to be incubated together for three months in a very moist environment.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incubate
Dictionary Entries Near incubate
Cite this Entry
“Incubate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incubate. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incubate
verb
in·cu·bate
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt
ˈin-
incubated; incubating
1
: to sit on eggs to hatch them by warmth
2
: to maintain (as bacteria or a chemically active system) under conditions good for development or reaction
3
: to go through the process of incubation
Medical Definition
incubate
verb
in·cu·bate
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt, ˈin-
incubated; incubating
1
: to maintain (as eggs, embryos of animals, or bacteria) under prescribed and usually controlled conditions favorable for hatching or development especially in an incubator
2
: to maintain (a chemically active system) under controlled conditions for the development of a reaction
: to undergo incubation
the cultures incubated for five days
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