incubation
n
1 [U] hatching (of eggs) 孵卵; 孵化
artificial incubation, ie hatching by artificial warmth 人工孵化.
2 [C] (also incu`bation period)
(a) (medical 医) period between being infected with a disease and the appearance of the first symptoms (传染病的)潜伏期.
(b) (fig 比喻) (period for) developing plans, etc (计画等的)酝酿(期).