Inoculum (Noun)
Meaning
A substance (a virus or toxin or immune serum) that is introduced into the body to produce or increase immunity to a particular disease.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The doctor administered an inoculum of the vaccine to the patient to protect her from contracting the disease.
- Researchers carefully prepared the inoculum of the virus to study its effects on the human immune system.
- The lab technician handled the inoculum with care, knowing that it contained a potent toxin that could cause harm if mishandled.
- The scientist injected a small inoculum of the immune serum into the mouse to test its efficacy in fighting off the infection.
- The inoculum of the live virus was given to the volunteer in a controlled clinical trial to assess its safety and effectiveness.