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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Inoculation \In*oc"u*la"tion\, n. [L. inoculatio: cf. F.
inoculation.]
1. The act or art of inoculating trees or plants.
[1913 Webster]

2. (Med.) The act or practice of communicating a disease to a
person in health, by inserting contagious matter in his
skin or flesh, usually for the purpose of inducing
immunity to the disease.
[1913 Webster PJC]

Note: The use was formerly limited to the intentional
communication of the smallpox, but is now extended to
include any similar introduction of modified virus; as,
the inoculation of rabies by Pasteur. The organisms
inoculated are usually an attentuated form of the
disease-causing organism, which may multiply harmlessly
in the body of the host, but induce immunity to the
more virulent forms of the organism.
[1913 Webster PJC]

3. Fig.: The communication of principles, especially false
principles, to the mind.
[1913 Webster]

4. (Microbiology) The introduction of microorganisms into a
growth medium, to cause the growth and multiplication of
the microorganisms.
[PJC]