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DictionaryincubationDisease development
noun

incubation

Development of a disease between infection and the appearance of symptoms.

Symptoms appear after a period of incubation.

Etymology
incubationLatinlie upon; brood

The Latin verb evokes a bird brooding on eggs. Disease incubation borrows the image of concealed development before the condition emerges in recognizable symptoms.

More examples

  • The disease has a longer incubation period than expected.
  • During incubation, the infected person may not yet feel ill.
  • The study compares incubation times for different infections.

Forms

incubation