microinject: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (C2+)Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “microinject” mean?
To introduce a substance into a microscopic or very small structure, such as a cell, using a very fine needle or pipette.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To introduce a substance into a microscopic or very small structure, such as a cell, using a very fine needle or pipette.
To perform a highly precise injection on a microscopic scale, often as part of a scientific or medical procedure, such as in genetic engineering or embryology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. The technical procedure is identical in both scientific communities.
Connotations
None beyond its strict technical meaning.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both British and American English, confined to specific scientific literature and discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “microinject” in a Sentence
[Subject] microinjects [Object (substance)] into [Object (target)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “microinject” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The researchers will microinject the recombinant protein into the zebrafish embryo.
- We need to microinject these oocytes before they mature.
American English
- The lab protocol requires you to microinject the plasmid DNA into the nucleus.
- They microinjected a fluorescent dye to track the cell's development.
adjective
British English
- The microinject procedure must be performed under a high-powered microscope.
- They developed a new microinject technique for mitochondria.
American English
- A microinject needle is incredibly fine and fragile.
- The study compared microinject delivery to other transfection methods.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in advanced research papers in life sciences, particularly in methodologies sections describing genetic manipulation or assisted reproductive technologies.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary domain. Refers to a standard laboratory procedure for introducing genes, proteins, or other compounds into individual cells or subcellular compartments.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “microinject”
- Using it without a direct object (e.g., 'They microinjected into the cell' is incomplete; must specify *what* was injected).
- Confusing it with the more general 'inject', losing the crucial microscopic scale.
- Using it in non-scientific contexts where it would be incomprehensible.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not. It refers to procedures on a cellular or microscopic level, typically in research laboratories or specialised fertility clinics, not in general medicine.
The noun is 'microinjection'. The act of microinjecting is a microinjection.
Not directly. You microinject into cells or microscopic structures. A person might undergo a treatment that *involves* microinjection (e.g., in IVF), but the verb's object is the cell or embryo, not the person.
A microinjection system typically consists of a high-precision micromanipulator, an extremely fine glass needle or pipette (a microcapillary), and a microscope to visualise the target.
To introduce a substance into a microscopic or very small structure, such as a cell, using a very fine needle or pipette.
Microinject is usually technical/scientific in register.
Microinject: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪkrəʊɪnˌdʒɛkt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪkroʊɪnˌdʒɛkt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MICROscope and a syringe for INJECTion combined into one tool for working on tiny cells.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISION DELIVERY IS TARGETED INSERTION (on a microscopic scale).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the verb 'microinject'?