English Explanatory Dictionary

incubation period

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The time elapsed between an exposure to a pathogenic organism, a chemical or radiation, and the appearance of signs and symptoms.

Word forms

incubation period incubation periods

Etymology

Since 1850s, from earlier period of incubation, attested in that now obsolete sense since late 1820s, which is a calque of French période d'incubation (attested since mid-1810s), itself a calque from Latin periodus incubationis (attested since 1770s).

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