incubate

To sit on (eggs) to provide heat, so as to promote embryonic development and the hatching of young; brood.

To maintain (eggs, organisms, or living tissue) at optimal environmental conditions for growth and development.

To maintain (a chemical or biochemical system) under specific conditions in order to promote a particular reaction.

To be infected with (a pathogen) before manifesting signs or symptoms of an infectious disease.

To form or consider slowly and protectively, as if hatching.

To brood eggs.

To develop and hatch.

To undergo incubation.

To sit upon for the purpose of hatching; hatch out, or produce by hatching: often used figuratively: as, to incubate eggs; to incubate a book or a project.