---
title: incubate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «incubate» in the school dictionary: To keep eggs warm so they will hatch, as a bird does by sitting on them or as a machine does. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# incubate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** eggs, bird, machine, temperature, illness, you · **What happens:** keep, hatch, do, sit, grow, look · **To what, where:** eggs, something, body, idea, duck eggs, bacteria

<!-- .vabout -->
«incubate» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [incubate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/incubate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To keep eggs warm so they will hatch, as a bird does by sitting on them or as a machine does.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incubate:m1:1
# text = To keep eggs warm so they will hatch, as a bird does by sitting on them or as a machine does.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	hatch	hatch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
14	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	sitting	sit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	advcl	_	_
16	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obl	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
19	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
22	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  | eggs |  |  |  | warm *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent egg=Theme |
| 2 | **hatch** | future | eggs *= egg* |  |  |  |  |  | vn grow-26.2.1 «NP.patient V PP.product»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | present | a bird |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **sit** | gerund | a bird *not said here* |  |  |  |  | on eggs *= egg* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on they=Location |
| 5 | **do** | present | a machine |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To keep something such as germs, or a sick premature baby, at the right warm temperature so it can grow or be looked after.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incubate:m2:1
# text = To keep something such as germs, or a sick premature baby, at the right warm temperature so it can grow or be looked after.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	sick	sick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	premature	premature	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	at	at	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
16	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
17	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	temperature	temperature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
19	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
21	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
22	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	25	aux:pass	_	_
25	looked	look	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	conj	_	_
26	after	after	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | as germs; a sick premature baby and the right warm temperature *obl* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **grow** | can | temperature |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **look** | infinitive · passive | temperature *not said here* |  |  |  |  | after *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute» |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: medicine — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When an illness incubates, it is growing in the body before you feel sick.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incubate:m3:1
# text = When an illness incubates, it is growing in the body before you feel sick.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	4	mark	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	incubates	incubate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
15	sick	sick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **incubate** | present | a illness |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | present · progressive | illness |  |  | the body |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in body=Location |
| 3 | **feel** | present | you |  |  |  |  | sick *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To develop an idea or a new company slowly before it is ready.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incubate:m4:1
# text = To develop an idea or a new company slowly before it is ready.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	develop	develop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
10	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **develop** | to-infinitive |  | a idea or a new company |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Product |
| 2 | **is** | present | company |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hen incubates her eggs for about 21 days.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incubate:x1:1
# text = The hen incubates her eggs for about 21 days.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	incubates	incubate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	about	about	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	21	21	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **incubate** | present | the hen | hen's eggs |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class incubated duck eggs and four ducklings hatched.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incubate:x2:1
# text = Our class incubated duck eggs and four ducklings hatched.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	incubated	incubate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	duck	duck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	ducklings	duckling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
9	hatched	hatch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **incubate** | past | Our class | duck eggs and four ducklings |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hatch** | participle |  | duck eggs and four ducklings *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn grow-26.2.1 «NP.patient V PP.product»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists incubate bacteria in warm dishes to study them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incubate:x3:1
# text = Scientists incubate bacteria in warm dishes to study them.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	incubate	incubate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	bacteria	bacterium	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	dishes	dish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	study	study	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **incubate** | present | Scientists | bacteria |  | warm dishes |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **study** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* | bacteria *= bacterium* |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flu virus incubates for a day or two before you feel ill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incubate:x4:1
# text = The flu virus incubates for a day or two before you feel ill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	flu	flu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	incubates	incubate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	conj	_	_
10	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
13	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **incubate** | present | the flu virus |  |  |  | day |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | present | you |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Penguin dads incubate the egg on their feet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incubate:x5:1
# text = Penguin dads incubate the egg on their feet.
1	Penguin	penguin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	dads	dad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	incubate	incubate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **incubate** | present | Penguin dads | the egg |  | dads's feet |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She incubated her idea for a book for years before writing it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incubate:x6:1
# text = She incubated her idea for a book for years before writing it.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	incubated	incubate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
10	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	writing	write	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **incubate** | past | She | her idea |  |  | year | for a book | tree rules |
| 2 | **write** | gerund | She *not said here* | idea |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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