incubation

From Latin incubationem, from incubare.

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

incubation (countable and uncountable, plural incubations)

1. Sitting on eggs for the purpose of hatching young; a brooding on, or keeping warm, to develop the life within, by any process.
2. (pathology) The development of a disease from its causes, or the period of such development.
3. (chemistry) A period of little reaction which is followed by more rapid reaction.
4. (psychology) One of the four proposed stages of creativity (preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification): the unconscious recombination of thought elements that were stimulated through conscious work at one point in time, resulting in novel ideas at a later point.
5. Sleeping in a temple or other holy place in order to have oracular dreams.
   • 1978, Benjamin Walker, Encyclopedia of Metaphysical Medicine, Routledge 1978, p. 144:

     Incubation in the vicinity of burial places, cremation grounds, holy wells and sacred streams was common. The ancient Hebrews visited vaults or slept among tombs to get meaningful dreams.

• incubation period

• incubate
• incubative
• incubator

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incubation f (plural incubations)

1. incubation

incubation (plural incubationes)

1. incubation