inoculate Hear it!

inoculate Definition

in·ocu·late (i näk′yə lāt′)

transitive verb inoculated -·lat′ed, inoculating -·lat′·ing

    1. to inject a serum, vaccine, etc. into (a living organism), esp. in order to create immunity
    2. to communicate (a disease) in this way
  2. to put or implant microorganisms into (soil, a culture medium, etc.) to develop a culture, stimulate growth, fix nitrogen, etc.
  3. to introduce ideas, etc. into the mind of; imbue

Etymology: ME enoculaten < L inoculatus, pp. of inoculare, to engraft a bud in another plant < in-, in + oculus, a bud, eye

Related Forms:

  • inoculative in·oc′u·la′·tive (-lāt′iv; -lə tiv) adjective
  • inoculator in·oc′u·la′·tor noun
inoculate Synonyms

inoculate

v.

immunize, vaccinate, protect; see inject 1, treat 3, vaccinate.

inoculate Usage Examples

Object

  • plate: A loop was used to inoculate a fresh plate of nutrient agar from this plate.

Modifying Another Word

  • also: Your G.P. can also inoculate but may take a while to get to get the vaccine in.