Incubation

Part of speech: noun (n.)

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. 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.