ə̇ˈnäkyəˌlāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English inoculaten, from Latin inoculare, from in- in- (II) + oculus eye, bud — more at eye
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to insert a bud into or graft (as a tree) by budding
b. : to treat (seeds) with bacteria especially for the promotion of nitrogen fixation (as in root nodules on legumes)
2.
a.
(1) : to communicate a disease to (an organism) by inserting its causative agent into the body
12 mice inoculated with anthrax
(2) : to introduce microorganisms or viruses onto or into (an organism or substrate)
inoculate the culture with one loopful of spore suspension
inoculated a rat with bacteria
(3) : to introduce (as microorganisms or immune sera) into or onto a culture medium
inoculate the spirochetes into blood agar
b. : seed 1d
3. : to introduce something into the mind of : imbue
inoculated them with their own ideas of revolution — Raymond Schuessler
inoculate the few who influence the many — Current Biography
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to graft by inserting buds
2. : to introduce microorganisms, vaccines, or sera by inoculation
Synonyms: see infuse