initiate
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
in·i·ti·ate
(ĭ-nĭsh′ē-āt′)tr.v. in·i·ti·at·ed, in·i·ti·at·ing, in·i·ti·ates
1. To set going by taking the first step; begin: initiated trade with developing nations. See Synonyms at begin.
2. To introduce to a new field, interest, skill, or activity: initiated the students into the world of opera.
3. To admit (someone) into membership, as with a ritual or ceremony.
adj. (-ĭt)
1. Initiated or admitted, as to membership or a position of authority.
2. Introduced to something new, such as a new field of knowledge.
n. (-ĭt)
1. One who is being or has been initiated into an organization.
2. One who has been introduced to or has attained some knowledge in a particular field.
in·i′ti·a′tor n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
initiate
vb (tr)
1. to begin or originate
2. to accept (new members) into an organization such as a club, through often secret ceremonies
3. to teach fundamentals to: she initiated him into the ballet.
adj
initiated; begun
n
4. a person who has been initiated, esp recently
5. a beginner; novice
[C17: from Latin initiāre (vb), from initium; see initial]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
in•i•ti•ate
(v. ɪˈnɪʃ iˌeɪt; adj., n. -ɪt, -ˌeɪt)v. -at•ed, -at•ing,
adj., n. v.t.
1. to begin, set going, or originate: to initiate major social reforms.
2. to introduce into the knowledge of some art or subject.
3. to admit into the membership of an organization or group, esp. with formal or secret rites.
adj. 4. initiated; begun.
5. admitted into an organizaton or group.
6. introduced to the knowledge of a subject.
n. 7. a person who has been initiated.
[1595–1605; < Latin initiātus, ptp. of initiāre, v. derivative of initium; see initial]
in•i′ti•a`tor, n.
syn: See begin.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
initiate
Past participle: initiated
Gerund: initiating
| Imperative |
|---|
| initiate |
| initiate |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  initiate - someone new to a field or activity unskilled person - a person who lacks technical training abecedarian - a novice learning the rudiments of some subject fledgeling, fledgling, newbie, newcomer, entrant, freshman, neophyte, starter - any new participant in some activity tenderfoot - an inexperienced person (especially someone inexperienced in outdoor living) trainee - someone who is being trained |
| 2. | initiate - someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field polymath - a person of great and varied learning bookman, scholar, scholarly person, student - a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines | |
| 3. |  initiate - people who have been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity; "it is very familiar to the initiate"people - (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively; "old people"; "there were at least 200 people in the audience" uninitiate - people who have not been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity; "it diverts the attention of the uninitiate" | |
| Verb | 1. | initiate - bring into being; "He initiated a new program"; "Start a foundation" lead up, initiate - set in motion, start an event or prepare the way for; "Hitler's attack on Poland led up to World War II" set - apply or start; "set fire to a building" |
| 2. | initiate - take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of; "This South African surgeon pioneered heart transplants" strike up - begin; "strike up a conversation"; "strike up a friendship" activate, actuate, set off, spark, spark off, touch off, trigger, trigger off, trip - put in motion or move to act; "trigger a reaction"; "actuate the circuits" cause, do, make - give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir"; "cause an accident" institute, establish, found, plant, constitute - set up or lay the groundwork for; "establish a new department" stage, arrange - plan, organize, and carry out (an event); "the neighboring tribe staged an invasion" mount - put up or launch; "mount a campaign" | |
| 3. | initiate - accept people into an exclusive society or group, usually with some rite; "African men are initiated when they reach puberty" | |
| 4. | initiate - bring up a topic for discussion | |
| 5. | initiate - set in motion, start an event or prepare the way for; "Hitler's attack on Poland led up to World War II" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
initiate
verb
1. begin, start, open, launch, establish, institute, pioneer, kick off (informal), bring about, embark on, originate, set about, get under way, instigate, kick-start, inaugurate, set in motion, trigger off, lay the foundations of, commence on, set going, break the ice on, set the ball rolling on They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.
noun
initiate someone into something instruct in, train in, coach in, acquaint with, drill in, make aware of, teach about, tutor in, indoctrinate, prime in, familiarize with I was initiated into the darker side of the work.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
initiate
verb1. To go about the initial step in doing (something):
approach, begin, commence, embark, enter, get off, inaugurate, institute, launch, lead off, open, set about, set out, set to, start, take on, take up, undertake.
Informal: kick off.
2. To admit formally into membership or office, as with ritual:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
شَخْص أدخِلَ في جَمْعِيَّهيَبْدأيُدْخِل في جَمْعِيَّه
přijmoutzahájitzasvěcenec
en indvieten optagenindføreindvieiværksætte
tulokas
innvígîur félagiinnvígjakoma af staî
zasvätenec
začeti
başla maküyeliğe kabul etmek/sokmakyeni üye
initiate
A. VT [ɪˈnɪʃɪeɪt]
1. (= begin) → iniciar, dar comienzo a; [+ talks] → entablar; [+ reform] → poner en marcha; [+ fashion] → introducir
to initiate proceedings against sb (Jur) → entablar una demanda contra algn
to initiate proceedings against sb (Jur) → entablar una demanda contra algn
2. to initiate sb into a society → admitir a algn en una asociación
to initiate sb into a secret → iniciar a algn en un secreto
to initiate sb into a secret → iniciar a algn en un secreto
B. [ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt] N → iniciado/a m/f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
initiate
[ɪˈnɪʃieɪt] vt
(= start) [+ process] → initier; [+ talks, discussion, conversation] → entamer, initier
The government has initiated a series of reforms → Le gouvernement a initié une série de réformes.
to initiate proceedings against sb → intenter une action contre qn, engager des poursuites contre qn
to initiate sex → prendre l'initiative des rapports sexuels
The government has initiated a series of reforms → Le gouvernement a initié une série de réformes.
to initiate proceedings against sb → intenter une action contre qn, engager des poursuites contre qn
to initiate sex → prendre l'initiative des rapports sexuels
[+ person] → initier
to initiate sb into sth [+ religion] → initier qn à qch; [+ activity] → initier qn à qch; [+ society, organization] → admettre qn au sein de qch
He wanted to initiate his son into fishing → Il voulait initier son fils à la pêche.
to be initiated into sth → être initié(e) à qch
to initiate sb into the mysteries of sth → initier qn aux mystères de qch
to initiate sb into the secrets of sth → initier qn aux secrets de qch
to initiate sb into sth [+ religion] → initier qn à qch; [+ activity] → initier qn à qch; [+ society, organization] → admettre qn au sein de qch
He wanted to initiate his son into fishing → Il voulait initier son fils à la pêche.
to be initiated into sth → être initié(e) à qch
to initiate sb into the mysteries of sth → initier qn aux mystères de qch
to initiate sb into the secrets of sth → initier qn aux secrets de qch
[ɪˈnɪʃiət] n (= member) [society, group, club] → initié(e) m/f
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
initiate
vt
(= set in motion) → den Anstoß geben zu, initiieren (geh); negotiations → einleiten; discussion → eröffnen; project → in die Wege leiten; legislation → einbringen; to initiate proceedings against somebody (Jur) → gegen jdn einen Prozess anstrengen
(= formally admit) (into club etc) → feierlich aufnehmen; (in tribal society) adolescents → initiieren
n (in club etc) → Neuaufgenommene(r) mf; (in tribal society) → Initiierte(r) mf; (in knowledge) → Eingeweihte(r) mf
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
initiate
[ɪˈnɪʃɪˌeɪt] vta. (begin) → iniziare; (talks) → iniziare, avviare; (reform) → promuovere
to initiate proceedings against sb (Law) → intentare causa a or contro qn
to initiate proceedings against sb (Law) → intentare causa a or contro qn
b. (admit) to initiate sb (into sth) → iniziare qn (a qc)
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
initial
(iˈniʃəl) adjective of, or at, the beginning. There were difficulties during the initial stages of building the house.
noun the letter that begins a word, especially a name. The picture was signed with the initials JJB, standing for John James Brown.
verb – past tense, past participle iˈnitialled – to mark or sign with initials of one's name. Any alteration on a cheque should be initialled.
iˈnitially adverb at the beginning; at first. This project will cost a lot of money initially but will eventually make a profit.
iˈnitiate (-ʃieit) verb1. to start (eg a plan, scheme, changes, reforms etc). He initiated a scheme for helping old people with their shopping.
2. to take (a person) into a society etc, especially with secret ceremonies. No-one who had been initiated into the society ever revealed the details of the ceremony.
iˈnitiate (-ʃiət) noun a person who has been initiated (into a society etc).
iˌnitiˈation (-ʃiˈei-) noun the act of initiating or process of being initiated.
iˈnitiative (-ʃətiv) noun1. a first step or move that leads the way. He took the initiative in organizing a search party to look for the girl; A move to start peace talks is sometimes called a peace initiative.
2. the ability to lead or make decisions for oneself. He is quite good at his job, but lacks initiative; My son actually went to the hairdresser's on his own initiative!
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
initiate
v. iniciar, comenzar, empezar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012