incubation

1. the period of time between a person being exposed to an infection and the appearance of the symptoms. Incubation periods for diseases tend to be quite constant, some commoner ones being: measles 10 to 15 days; German measles 14 to 21; chicken pox 14 to 21; mumps 18 to 21; and whooping cough 7 to 10 days. 2. the time taken to start and grow microorganisms in culture media. 3. the process of caring for and treating a premature baby in an INCUBATOR .