incubation

Etymology

From Latin incubationem, from incubare.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

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 its period of incubation. (See below.)
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.

Noun

incubation f (plural incubations)

1. incubation