incubate

verb [I or T] (EGG)

/ˈɪŋ.kjʊ.beɪt/

Definition

› When a bird, etc. incubates its eggs, it keeps them warm until the young come out, and when eggs incubate, they develop to the stage at which the young come out: The female bird incubates the eggs for about 16 days.Ornithology and bird-watchingAnimal reproduction incubation

/ˌɪŋ.kjʊˈbeɪ.ʃən/ noun [U] › The incubation period varies depending on the time of year when the eggs were laid. In smallpox, there is an incubation period of 8–18 days between initial infection and first symptoms.Ornithology and bird-watchingAnimal reproductionBacteria, moulds, germs and virusesPassing on illness and causing disease

(Definition of incubate verb (EGG) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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