vb, -lat*ed  -lat*ing vt  1  :  to communicate a disease to (an organism) by inserting its causative agent into the body <12 mice inoculatedwith anthrax>   2 a  :  to introduce microorganisms or viruses onto or into (an organism, substrate, or culture medium) <inoculateda rat with bacteria>   b  :  to introduce (as a microorganism or antiserum) into an organism or onto a culture medium < a pure culture of bacteria into a healthy host>   3  :  to introduce immunologically active material (as an antibody or antigen) into esp. in order to treat or prevent a disease < children against diphtheria>  vi  :  to introduce microorganisms, vaccines, or sera by inoculation .
 
 
 
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