incubation period (noun)

1. In the animated series, the villain has an incubation period of one hour after being exposed to toxic waste before his superpowers manifest.

2. In the futuristic novel, the aliens have a unique biology with an incubation period for their reproductive cycle that spans over several Earth years.

3. In the love story movie, the main character experiences an incubation period before realizing their true feelings for their best friend.

4. In the classic novel, the protagonist's illness has an incubation period that leaves the readers in suspense as they anxiously anticipate the development of symptoms.