incubator

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A device that provides a warm, controlled environment for hatching eggs or caring for premature babies.

   Grammar: Countable: an incubator, two incubators.

   Patterns

   • in an incubator
   • baby incubator
   • egg incubator

   The premature baby was kept in an incubator for several weeks.

   The farmer placed the eggs in an incubator to keep them warm.

   The hospital bought new incubators for the neonatal unit.

2. 2nouncountablebusiness

   An organization or program that helps new businesses or projects develop in their early stages.

   Grammar: Countable: a business incubator, several incubators.

   Patterns

   • business incubator
   • technology incubator
   • incubator for something

   The startup joined a business incubator to get funding and advice.

   The university runs an incubator for student entrepreneurs.

   Many tech companies began in a small incubator in the city.

Word forms

Common combinations

baby incubator

The hospital needs more baby incubators.

egg incubator

They built a small egg incubator at home.

business incubator

The business incubator offers office space and mentoring.

in an incubator

The chicks hatched after three weeks in an incubator.

Synonyms and how they differ

brooder

Brooder is used for a heated enclosure for young birds, while incubator is for hatching eggs or caring for premature babies.

Word family

incubate verb

To keep eggs warm until they hatch, or to develop a baby or idea.

incubation noun

The process of keeping something warm for development, or the period of development.

Commonly confused: incubator or inculcator?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “incubator”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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