inoculate

One entry found for inoculate.

Main Entry: in·oc·u·late
Pronunciation: i-'nä-ky&-"lAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -lat·ed; -lat·ing
Etymology: Middle English, to insert a bud in a plant, from Latin inoculatus, past participle of inoculare, from in- + oculus eye, bud -- more at EYE
1 a : to introduce a microorganism into <inoculate 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 especially in order to treat or prevent a disease <inoculate children against diphtheria>
2 : to introduce something into the mind of
3 : to protect as if by inoculation
synonym see INFUSE
- in·oc·u·la·tive /-"lA-tiv/ adjective
- in·oc·u·la·tor /-"lA-t&r/ noun