Definition of the word incubator

The word "incubator" originates from the biological context, where it refers to a warm, humid environment that nurtures the development of eggs or young animals. The term was coined in the mid-19th century, during the development of modern chick hatching techniques. Prior to this, farmers and breeders would use crude, makeshift structures to warm and shelter their eggs, but these early methods had low success rates. The invention of the first incubator by French engineer Clément Ader in 1843 revolutionized the process, allowing for mass production of hatched chicks. The concept of incubation was soon applied to other fields, such as human healthcare, biotechnology, and business, giving rise to modern usage of the term "incubator" to describe a supportive environment for growth and development.