incubation

英[ɪŋkjʊ'beɪʃ(ə)n] 美[,ɪŋkju'beʃən]

1. maintaining something at the most favorable temperature for its development

2. (pathology) the phase in the development of an infection between the time a pathogen enters the body and the time the first symptoms appear

3. sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body