transitive verb inoculated, inoculating
- 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
Origin:
ME enoculaten < L inoculatus, pp. of inoculare, to engraft a bud in another plant < in-, in + oculus, a bud, eye