Period of incubation
(gcide) | Incubation \In`cu*ba"tion\, 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] |