vb, -bat*ed  -bat*ing vt  1  :  to maintain (as eggs, embryos of animals, or bacteria) under prescribed and usu. controlled conditions favorable for hatching or development esp. in an incubator  2  :  to maintain (a chemically active system) under controlled conditions for the development of a reaction vi  :  to undergo incubation <the cultures incubatedfor five days>  .
 
   
 
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