inoculate

The definition of inoculate is to vaccinate someone against a disease.

(verb)

When you get your dog a rabies shot, this is an example of a situation where you inoculate your dog against rabies.

See inoculate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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
to put or implant microorganisms into (soil, a culture medium, etc.) to develop a culture, stimulate growth, fix nitrogen, etc.
to introduce ideas, etc. into the mind of; imbue

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

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See inoculate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb in·oc·u·lat·ed, in·oc·u·lat·ing, in·oc·u·lates

To introduce a serum, vaccine, or antigenic substance into (the body of a person or animal), especially to produce or boost immunity to a specific disease.
To communicate a disease to (a living organism) by transferring its causative agent into the organism.
To implant microorganisms or infectious material into (a culture medium).
To safeguard as if by inoculation; protect.
To introduce an idea or attitude into the mind of.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English inoculaten, to graft a scion

Origin: , from Latin inoculāre, inoculāt-

Origin: : in-, in; see in-²

Origin: + oculus, eye, bud; see ok^w- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: