inoculate

[ ih-nok-yuh-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, in·oc·u·lat·ed, in·oc·u·lat·ing.

1. to implant (a disease agent or antigen) in a person, animal, or plant to produce a disease for study or to stimulate disease resistance.
2. to affect or treat (a person, animal, or plant) in this manner.
3. to introduce (microorganisms) into surroundings suited to their growth, as a culture medium.
4. to imbue (a person), as with ideas.

   Synonyms: infuse, indoctrinate

5. Metallurgy. to treat (molten metal) chemically to strengthen the microstructure.

verb (used without object)

, in·oc·u·lat·ed, in·oc·u·lat·ing.

1. to perform inoculation.

inoculate

/ ɪˈnɒkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to introduce (the causative agent of a disease) into the body of (a person or animal), in order to induce immunity
2. tr to introduce (microorganisms, esp bacteria) into (a culture medium)
3. tr to cause to be influenced or imbued, as with ideas or opinions

Derived Forms

• inˌocuˈlation, noun
• inˈoculative, adjective
• inˈocuˌlator, noun

Other Words From

• in·oc·u·la·tive [ih-, nok, -y, uh, -ley-tiv, -y, uh, -l, uh, -], adjective
• in·ocu·lator noun
• nonin·ocu·lative adjective
• rein·ocu·late verb reinoculated reinoculating
• self-in·ocu·lated adjective
• unin·ocu·lated adjective
• unin·ocu·lative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inoculate¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin inoculātus, past participle of inoculāre “to graft by budding, implant,” equivalent to in- “in” + -oculā- (stem of -oculāre “to graft,” derivative of oculus “eye, bud”) + -tus past participle suffix; in- ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of inoculate¹

C15: from Latin inoculāre to implant, from in- ² + oculus eye, bud

Example Sentences

The commander of the Continental Army realized that if he did not inoculate his army against smallpox, he might not have an army.

From The Daily Beast

But even before adults enter their senior years, children are not a surefire way to inoculate against loneliness.

From The Daily Beast

The ensuing hysteria persuaded some parents not to inoculate their kids for fear of triggering autism.

From The Daily Beast

A deeply-held belief in moral integrity does not inoculate one from mistakes, weakness and failure.

From The Daily Beast

First, the two sides understood that minimal advance assurances were needed to inoculate the meeting against a debacle.

From The Daily Beast

The surest method is to inoculate a small portion of the mixture with a minute crystal of the substance we expect to be formed.

From Project Gutenberg

As all these cultures are of virulent diseases, inoculate Inner N'gombi until intact tubes recovered.

From Project Gutenberg

Now fill two fermentation tubes with the bouillon, tint with litmus solution, and sterilise; inoculate with B. lactis aerogenes.

From Project Gutenberg

Inoculate the liquefied medium and label it, etc., precisely as if dealing with a tube of bouillon.

From Project Gutenberg

Inoculate the plates in series of three, as described for gelatine surface plates 3-8.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• inject
• vaccinate