incubate

verb

/ˈɪŋkjubeɪt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they incubate	/ˈɪŋkjubeɪt/ /ˈɪŋkjubeɪt/
he / she / it incubates	/ˈɪŋkjubeɪts/ /ˈɪŋkjubeɪts/
past simple incubated	/ˈɪŋkjubeɪtɪd/ /ˈɪŋkjubeɪtɪd/
past participle incubated	/ˈɪŋkjubeɪtɪd/ /ˈɪŋkjubeɪtɪd/
-ing form incubating	/ˈɪŋkjubeɪtɪŋ/ /ˈɪŋkjubeɪtɪŋ/

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[transitive] incubate something (of a bird鸟) to sit on its eggs in order to keep them warm until they hatch孵（卵）；孵化
[transitive] incubate something (biology生物) to keep cells, bacteria, etc. at a suitable temperature so that they develop培养（细胞、细菌等）
- The samples were incubated at 80°C for three minutes.样品在80℃孵育三分钟。
Topics Biologyc2
[transitive]
be incubating something
(medical医学) to have a disease developing inside you before symptoms appear有（传染病在体内）潜伏
- The source of infection may be a person who is incubating an infectious disease.传染源可能是正在孕育传染病的人。
Topics Illnessc2
[intransitive] (medical医学) (of a disease疾病) to develop slowly without showing any signs潜伏

Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Latin incubat- ‘lain on’, from the verb incubare, from in- ‘upon’ + cubare ‘to lie’.

TOEFL BNC: 10932 COCA: 18723

incubate

Eggs and laying eggs: broody, clutch, egg...

Cell biology: antioxidant, bioprinting, cell...

Preparations and plans: preparation, agreement, plan...