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  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Incubation  \In`cu*ba"tion\,  n.  [L.  incubatio:  cf  F. 
  incubation.] 
  1.  A  sitting  on  eggs  for  the  purpose  of  hatching  young;  a 
  brooding  on  or  keeping  warm,  (eggs)  to  develop  the  life 
  within,  by  any  process.  --Ray. 
 
  2.  (Med.)  The  development  of  a  disease  from  its  causes,  or 
  its  period  of  incubation.  (See  below.) 
 
  3.  A  sleeping  in  a  consecrated  place  for  the  purpose  of 
  dreaming  oracular  dreams.  --Tylor. 
 
  {Period  of  incubation},  or  {Stage  of  incubation}  (Med.),  the 
  period  which  elapses  between  exposure  to  the  causes  of  a 
  disease  and  the  attack  resulting  from  it  the  time  of 
  development  of  the  supposed  germs  or  spores. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  incubation 
  n  1:  maintaining  something  at  the  most  favorable  temperature  for 
  its  development 
  2:  sitting  on  eggs  so  as  to  hatch  them  by  the  warmth  of  the 
  body  [syn:  {brooding}] 

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