incubate
US /ˈɪŋ.kjə.beɪt/
UK /ˈɪŋ.kjə.beɪt/
1.
couver, incuber
to sit on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
:
•
The hen will incubate her eggs for 21 days.
La poule va couver ses œufs pendant 21 jours.
•
Some birds use their body heat to incubate their eggs.
Certains oiseaux utilisent la chaleur de leur corps pour couver leurs œufs.
2.
incuber, couver
to keep a disease or an idea in one's mind for a period of time before it develops or becomes apparent
:
•
She had been incubating this idea for months.
Elle couvait cette idée depuis des mois.
•
The virus can incubate for several days before symptoms appear.
Le virus peut incuber pendant plusieurs jours avant l’apparition des symptômes.