incubates
|in-cu-bates|
🇺🇸
/ˈɪŋkjəˌbeɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˈɪŋkjʊbeɪt/
(incubate)
nurture development
Etymology
'incubate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'incubare', where 'in-' meant 'on/upon' and 'cubare' meant 'to lie'.
'incubate' changed from Latin 'incubare' (and Late Latin 'incubatus'), passed into Old French/Medieval Latin forms such as 'incuber'/'incubatus', and eventually became the modern English word 'incubate'.
Initially it meant 'to lie upon' (as a bird on eggs); over time it evolved to mean 'to keep warm so something develops', then extended to 'to cultivate under controlled conditions' and figuratively 'to foster or develop ideas or projects'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to keep eggs warm so that the young inside develop and hatch.
She incubates the hen's eggs in a heated box until they hatch.
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Verb 2
to maintain cells, bacteria, or other biological samples under controlled conditions for growth or reaction (to culture).
The laboratory incubates bacterial cultures at 37°C for 24 hours.
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Verb 3
to foster or develop an idea, project, or business in its early stages until it is ready to proceed.
The program incubates new startups by providing mentoring and seed funding.
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Last updated: 2025/11/03 05:41