inoculate

/ɪˌnɑkjəˈleɪt/

Other forms: inoculated; inoculating; inoculates

If you inoculate someone, you try to make him immune to a disease by injecting a little dose of it, so his body can make antibodies to fight it off. When you were little you probably got a vaccine to inoculate you against smallpox.

When inoculate first came into English in the 15th century, it referred to inserting a bud onto another plant. Now you’re more likely to hear it used to describe the process of building up immunity to a disease by giving someone a vaccine, which also involves the insertion of foreign matter. You can also inoculate someone metaphorically, with ideas.

Definitions of inoculate

1. verb

   impregnate with the virus or germ of a disease in order to render immune
   type of:

   impregnate

   fertilize and cause to grow
2. verb

   perform vaccinations or produce immunity in by inoculation
   synonyms: immunise, immunize, vaccinate

   type of:

   inject, shoot

   give an injection to
3. verb

   introduce a microorganism into
   types:

   seed

   inoculate with microorganisms

   type of:

   enclose, inclose, insert, introduce, put in, stick in

   introduce
4. verb

   introduce an idea or attitude into the mind of
   “My teachers inoculated me with their beliefs”

   type of:

   inform

   impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to
5. verb

   insert a bud for propagation
   type of:

   propagate

   cause to propagate, as by grafting or layering