Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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

   2. (Med.) The act or practice of communicating a disease to a
      person in health, by inserting contagious matter in his
      skin or flesh.

   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.

   3. Fig.: The communication of principles, especially false
      principles, to the mind.

Source : WordNet®

inoculation
     n : taking a vaccine as a precaution against contracting a
         disease [syn: {vaccination}]