[in.oc.u.late] vt -lat.ed ; -lat.ing [ME, to insert a bud in a plant, fr. L inoculatus, pp. of inoculare, fr. in- + oculus eye, bud--more at eye] (1721) 1 a: to introduce a microorganism into "~ mice with anthrax" "beans inoculated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria" b: to introduce (as a microorganism) into a suitable situation for growth c: to introduce immunologically active material (as an antibody or antigen) into esp. in order to treat or prevent a disease "~ children against diphtheria"
2: to introduce something into the mind of
3: to protect as if by inoculation syn see infuse -- in.oc.u.la.tive adj -- in.oc.u.la.tor n