incubator
UK: ˈɪŋkjubeɪtə | US: ˈɪŋkjubeɪtər
n. a device or apparatus providing controlled conditions for the growth or maintenance of biological cultures, eggs, or premature infants
n. an environment fostering development or innovation (e.g., a startup incubator)
incubator = in<in, upon> + cub<lie down> + ator<noun suffix denoting agent or tool>
- in (Latin: "in, upon") → Indicates location or state.
- cub (Latin: "cubare," to lie down) → Reflects the idea of resting or nurturing.
- ator (Latin suffix "-ator") → Forms nouns indicating an instrument or person performing an action (e.g., "elevator," "generator").
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin incubare ("to lie upon"), the word originally described birds brooding eggs. By the 19th century, it evolved to denote artificial devices mimicking this nurturing function—first for eggs, later for medical and technological contexts. The suffix "-ator" systematically converts verbs into tools/agents, aligning with Latin patterns.
The hospital’s neonatal incubator keeps premature babies warm and safe.
Tech startups often thrive in business incubators offering mentorship.
Researchers placed the bacterial culture in an incubator overnight.
The incubator maintained a constant temperature for the hatching eggs.
Her innovative idea grew rapidly within the creative incubator program.