Definition of "incubator" []

• An apparatus in which environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, can be controlled, often used for growing bacterial cultures, hatching eggs artificially, or providing suitable conditions for a chemical or biological reaction. (noun)
• Medicine An apparatus for maintaining an infant, especially a premature infant, in an environment of controlled temperature, humidity, and oxygen concentration. (noun)
• A place or situation that permits or encourages the formation and development, as of new ideas: a college that was an incubator of new approaches to sociology. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The babies in incubator stories became a lead item in newspapers, and on radio and TV all over the US."
• "Importantly, they have forged collaborations with the community, and through what they call an "incubator" environment "partners work side by side, sharing resources and ideas to better serve children."
• "+1 on the proviso that all incubator releases include the phrase incubator / incubating in their version, artifact or group ID so that its clear that its an incubator release."