in·oc·u·late [ i nókyə làyt ](past and past participlein·oc·u·lat·ed, present participlein·oc·u·lat·ing, 3rd person present singularin·oc·u·lates)
transitive verb
Definition:
1. protect somebody against disease: to inject or introduce a serum, antigen, or a weakened form of a disease-producing pathogen into the body of a person or animal in order to create immunity to the disease inoculated every child against polio
2. add microorganisms to culture: to introduce microorganisms into a culture medium
[15th century. < Latin inoculat-, past participle of inoculare "graft on a plant part" < oculus "bud, eye"]
