Category:Inoculate

In*oc"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inoculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Inoculating,.] Etym: [L. inoculatus, p.p. of inoculare to ingraft; pref. in- in,on + oculare to furnish with eyes, fr. oculus an eye, also, a bud. See Ocular.]

1. To bud; to insert, or graft, as the bud of a tree or plant in another tree or plant.

2. To insert a foreign bud into; as, to inoculate a tree.

3. (Med.)

Defn: To communicate a disease to ( a person ) by inserting infectious matter in the skin or flesh; as, to inoculate a person with the virus of smallpox,rabies, etc. See Vaccinate.

4. Fig.: To introduce into the mind; -- used especially of harmful ideas or principles; to imbue; as, to inoculate one with treason or infidelity.

inoculate In*oc"u*late, v. i.

1. To graft by inserting buds.

2. To communicate disease by inoculation.