v.tr. 1 a treat (a person or animal) with a small quantity of the agent of a disease, in the form of vaccine or serum, usu. by injection, to promote immunity against the disease. b implant (a disease) by means of vaccine. 2 instil (a person) with ideas or opinions. inoculable adj. inoculation n. inoculative adj. inoculator n.
[ orig. in sense 'insert (a bud) into a plant': L inoculare inoculat- engraft (as IN-(2), oculus eye, bud) ]