from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Inoculate \In*oc"u*late\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Inoculated}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Inoculating}.] [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.
[1913 Webster]
2. To insert a foreign bud into; as, to inoculate a tree.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Med.) To communicate a disease to (a person) by inserting
infectious matter in the skin or flesh, especially as a
means of inducing immunological resistance to that or
related diseases; as, to inoculate a person with the virus
of smallpox, rabies, etc. See {Vaccinate}.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
4. Fig.: To introduce into the mind; -- used especially of
harmful ideas or principles; to imbue; as, to inoculate
one with treason or infidelity.
[1913 Webster]
5. (Microbiology) To introduce microorganisms into (a growth
medium), to cause the growth and multiplication of the
microorganisms; as, to inoculate a fermentation vat with
an actinomycete culture in order to produce streptomycin.
[PJC]