incubate

动词 incubate:

1. grow under conditions that promote development
2. sit on (eggs)
   同义词：brood, hatch, cover

1. Some viruses incubate very rapidly.
   有些病毒繁殖得很迅速。

in.cu.bate

v.（动词）
in.cu.bat.ed,in.cu.bat.ing,in.cu.bates
v.tr.（及物动词）
To sit on (eggs) to provide heat, so as to promote embryonic development and the hatching of young; brood.
孵化：坐在（蛋）上以提供热量，促进胚胎的生长和孵化出小生命；孵卵

To maintain (eggs, organisms, or living tissue) at optimal environmental conditions for growth and development.
培育：使（蛋、器官或生长组织）保持在一种适宜的环境条件下，以便生长和发育
To maintain (a chemical or biochemical system) under specific conditions in order to promote a particular reaction.
使在最佳状况下：把（化学或生化系统）置于特定条件下，以促进某种特定反应的发生
To form or consider slowly and protectively, as if hatching:
酝酿：缓慢而有创造性地组织或思考，就象孵化一样：
例句：
incubated the idea for a while, then announced it.
酝酿了一会儿想法，然后把它宣布出来

v.intr.（不及物动词）
To brood eggs.
孵蛋
To develop and hatch.
生长与孵化
To undergo incubation.
进行酝酿、孵化

来源：
Latin incub3re incub3t- [to lie down on]
拉丁语 incub3re incub3t- [躺（卧）在…上面]
in- [on] * see in- 2
in- [在…上] *参见 in-2
cub3re [to lie down]
cub3re [躺下]

【引伸】
in.cuba.tive
adj.（形容词）