inoculate

in·oc·u·late

verb \in-ˈäk-yə-ˌlāt\

in·oc·u·lat·edin·oc·u·lat·ing

Definition of INOCULATE

transitive verb

1

: to communicate a disease to (an organism) by inserting its causative agent into the body <12 mice inoculated with anthrax>

2

a : to introduce microorganisms or viruses onto or into (an organism, substrate, or culture medium) <inoculated a rat with bacteria> b : to introduce (as a microorganism or antiserum) into an organism or onto a culture medium <inoculate a pure culture of bacteria into a healthy host>

3

: to introduce immunologically active material (as an antibody or antigen) into especially in order to treat or prevent a disease <inoculate children against diphtheria>

intransitive verb

: to introduce microorganisms, vaccines, or sera by inoculation