incubate

incubate

CEFR: C1-C2 /in-cu-bate/ [ih1.n.k.y.ah0.b.ey2.t]

Incubate means to sit on egg in order to keep them warm before they hatch. Example sentences are:

Example Sentences:
Birds incubate their eggs to keep them at an appropriate temperature.
When most birds incubate eggs, the females often produce high levels of prolactin, a hormone involved in parental behavior.
In monogamous species, both the male and female build the nest and incubate eggs.

In a laboratory, to incubate means to keep (eggs, bacteria, or embryos) at a suitable temperature so that they develop. For example:

Example Sentences:
The embryos are incubated in the laboratory at 80°C.