inoculate

C1 Topic:Health & Medicine

US /ɪˈnɑːkjəleɪt/ UK /ɪˈnɒkjʊleɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #55354

Meanings

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.
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.
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.
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

Synonyms

1 verb · to introduce a vaccine or... vaccinateimmunize

2 verb · microbiology: to introduce... seed

3 verb · horticulture: to graft a... graft bud

4 verb · figurative: to instill an... instill

Word family

Forms inoculated

Derived forms inoculationinoculantinoculatorinoculum

Related forms vaccine immunityculture mediumgrafting

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.

Topics

Health & Medicine

External links

# inoculate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪˈnɑːkjəleɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪˈnɒkjʊleɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 55354

## Meanings
1. to introduce a vaccine or antigen into a person or animal in order to produce immunity
2. microbiology: to introduce microorganisms, cells, or other material into a culture medium or organism
3. horticulture: to graft a bud or shoot onto a plant
4. figurative: to instill an idea or attitude in someone, especially as protection against contrary influence

## Examples
- The medical team inoculated the villagers against yellow fever.
- The researcher inoculated the sterile broth with the bacterial strain.
- The gardener inoculated the young tree with a bud from the older variety.
- The course aims to inoculate students against misleading statistical claims.

## Synonyms
- vaccinate
- immunize
- seed
- graft

## Derived Forms
- inoculation
- inoculant
- inoculator
- inoculum

## Related Forms
- vaccine
- immunity
- culture medium
- grafting

## 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.

## Topics
- Health & Medicine

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