*incubation*

n. [ L. incubatio: cf. F. incubation. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) The development of a disease from its causes, or its period of incubation. (See below.) [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A sleeping in a consecrated place for the purpose of dreaming oracular dreams. Tylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The maintenance (of a living organism, such as microorganisms or a premature baby) in appropriate conditions, such as of temperature, humidity, or atmospheric composition, for growth. [ PJC ]

5. The gradual development in some interior environment, until fully formed; as, the incubation time for developing a new drug may be longer than ten years from its first discovery. [ PJC ]

Period of incubation, or
Stage of incubation (Med.), the period which elapses between exposure to the causes of an infectious disease and the attack resulting from it; the time during which an infective agent must grow in the body before producing overt symptoms of disease. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]