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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

incubation

/ɪnkjuˈbeɪʃən/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:57
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What does incubation mean?

noun

  1. Sitting on eggs for the purpose of hatching young; a brooding on, or keeping warm, to develop the life within, by any process.
  2. The development of a disease from its causes, or the period of such development.
  3. A period of little reaction which is followed by more rapid reaction.
More meanings (2)

noun

  1. One of the four proposed stages of creativity (preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification): the unconscious recombination of thought elements that were stimulated through conscious work at one point in time, resulting in novel ideas at a later point.
  2. Sleeping in a temple or other holy place in order to have oracular dreams or to receive healing.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ɪnkjuˈbeɪʃən/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Does it not arise from the difficulty of several females associating together, and finding a male ready to undertake the office of incubation?
Charles DarwinThe Voyage of the BeagleProject Gutenberg ebook #944
Although periods of incubation are essential for every specific habit, practically every act of skill is dependent upon a number of simpler habits.
Walter Dill ScottIncreasing Human Efficiency in Business A Contribution to the Psychology of BusinessProject Gutenberg ebook #1319
More book examples (3)
One practice of the temple was of special interest, viz., the incubation sleep, in which dreams were suggested to the patients.
William, Sir OslerThe Evolution of Modern Medicine A Series of Lectures Delivered at Yale University on the Silliman Foundation in April, 1913Project Gutenberg ebook #1566
Under favorable conditions for incubation, such as warm, moist surroundings, the ova or eggs hatch and the ciliated embryos become freed.
Robert Alexander CraigCommon Diseases of Farm AnimalsProject Gutenberg ebook #8502
The incubation stage is taken from the date of infection to the first appearance of the local lesion at the sight of inoculation.
George M. (George Milbrey) Gould; Walter L. (Walter Lytle) PyleAnomalies and Curiosities of MedicineProject Gutenberg ebook #747