incubation period /in′kyəbā″shən/ [L, incubare, to lie on; Gk, peri, around, hodos, way] , 1. the time between exposure to a pathogenic organism and the onset of symptoms of a disease. 2. the time required to induce the development of an embryo in an egg or to induce the development and replication of tissue cells or microorganisms being grown in culture media or other special laboratory environment. 3. the time allowed for a chemical reaction or process to proceed.
