Meanings
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1
verb
to introduce a vaccine or antigen into a person or animal in order to produce immunity
The medical team inoculated the villagers against yellow fever.
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2
verb
microbiology: to introduce microorganisms, cells, or other material into a culture medium or organism
The researcher inoculated the sterile broth with the bacterial strain.
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3
verb
horticulture: to graft a bud or shoot onto a plant
The gardener inoculated the young tree with a bud from the older variety.
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4
verb
figurative: to instill an idea or attitude in someone, especially as protection against contrary influence
The course aims to inoculate students against misleading statistical claims.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Latin inoculare, 'graft a bud into a plant,' formed from in-, 'into,' + oculus, 'eye or bud.' The horticultural image was extended to deliberately introducing infectious material, then to vaccination, laboratory cultures, and figurative protection from ideas.