- to sit upon (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.
- to hatch (eggs), as by sitting upon them or by artificial heat.
- to maintain at a favorable temperature and in other conditions promoting development, as cultures of bacteria or prematurely born infants.
- to develop or produce as if by hatching; give form to: His brain was incubating schemes for raising money.
- to sit upon eggs.
- to undergo incubation.
- to develop; grow; take form: A plan was slowly incubating in her mind.
- (of birds) to supply (eggs) with heat for their development, esp by sitting on them
- to cause (eggs, embryos, bacteria, etc) to develop, esp in an incubator or culture medium
- (of eggs, embryos, bacteria, etc) to develop in favourable conditions, esp in an incubator
- (of disease germs) to remain inactive in an animal or human before causing disease
- to develop or cause to develop gradually; foment or be fomented
