Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun incubation

3 senses of incubation

Sense 1
incubation -- (maintaining something at the most favorable temperature for its development)
       => care, attention, aid, tending -- (the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something; "no medical care was required"; "the old car needs constant attention")

Sense 2
incubation -- ((pathology) the phase in the development of an infection between the time a pathogen enters the body and the time the first symptoms appear)
       => phase, stage -- (any distinct time period in a sequence of events; "we are in a transitional stage in which many former ideas must be revised or rejected")

Sense 3
brooding, incubation -- (sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body)
       => parturition, birth, giving birth, birthing -- (the process of giving birth)