inoculative
Variant of inoculate
in·ocu·late (i näk′yə lāt′)
transitive verb inoculated -·lat′ed, inoculating -·lat′·ing
- to inject a serum, vaccine, etc. into (a living organism), esp. in order to create immunity
- to communicate (a disease) in this way
- to put or implant microorganisms into (soil, a culture medium, etc.) to develop a culture, stimulate growth, fix nitrogen, etc.
- to introduce ideas, etc. into the mind of; imbue
Etymology: ME enoculaten < L inoculatus, pp. of inoculare, to engraft a bud in another plant < in-, in + oculus, a bud, eye
Related Forms:
- inoculative in·oc′u·la′·tive (-lāt′iv; -lə tiv) adjective
- inoculator in·oc′u·la′·tor noun
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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