Definition of INOCULATE

inoculate

Meanings

Plural: inoculates

Verb

  • introduce an idea or attitude into the mind of
    • "My teachers inoculated me with their beliefs"
  • introduce a microorganism into
  • perform vaccinations or produce immunity in by inoculation
  • insert a bud for propagation
  • impregnate with the virus or germ of a disease in order to render immune
  • To introduce an antigenic substance or vaccine into something (e.g. the body) or someone, such as to produce immunity to a specific disease.
  • To safeguard or protect something as if by inoculation.
  • To add one substance to another.
  • To graft by inserting buds.
  • To introduce into the mind (used especially of harmful ideas or principles).

Noun

  • Synonym of inoculum.

Origin / Etymology

First attested in c. 1440; inherited from Middle English inoculaten (“to graft”), from Latin inoculātus, perfect passive participle of inoculō (“to ingraft an eye or bud of one plant into (another), implant”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from in- (“in”) + oculus (“an eye”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).

Scrabble Score: 11

inoculate is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
inoculate is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
inoculate is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

inoculate is a valid Words With Friends word