INITIATE

Pronunciation (US):

• INITIATE (noun)
  The noun INITIATE has 3 senses:

1. someone new to a field or activity
2. someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
3. people who have been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity

  Familiarity information: INITIATE used as a noun is uncommon.

• INITIATE (verb)
  The verb INITIATE has 5 senses:

1. bring into being
2. take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of
3. accept young people into society, usually with some rite
4. bring up a topic for discussion
5. prepare the way for

  Familiarity information: INITIATE used as a verb is common.

• INITIATE (noun)

Meaning:

Someone new to a field or activity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

tyro; tiro; initiate; beginner; novice

Hypernyms ("initiate" is a kind of...):

unskilled person (a person who lacks technical training)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "initiate"):

trainee (someone who is being trained)

tenderfoot (an inexperienced person (especially someone inexperienced in outdoor living))

entrant; fledgeling; fledgling; freshman; neophyte; newbie; newcomer; starter (any new participant in some activity)

landlubber; landsman; lubber (an inexperienced sailor; a sailor on the first voyage)

cub; greenhorn; rookie (an awkward and inexperienced youth)

apprentice; learner; prentice (works for an expert to learn a trade)

abecedarian (a novice learning the rudiments of some subject)

Meaning:

Someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

learned person; pundit; savant; initiate

Hypernyms ("initiate" is a kind of...):

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)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "initiate"):

polymath (a person of great and varied learning)

Meaning:

People who have been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

enlightened; initiate

Context example:

it is very familiar to the initiate

Hypernyms ("initiate" is a kind of...):

people ((plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively)

Antonym:

uninitiate (people who have not been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity)

• INITIATE (verb)

Meaning:

Bring into being

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

initiate; originate; start

Context examples:

He initiated a new program / Start a foundation

Hypernyms (to "initiate" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "initiate"):

date back; date from; go back (belong to an earlier time)

set (apply or start)

initiate; lead up (prepare the way for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Meaning:

Take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

initiate; pioneer

Context example:

This South African surgeon pioneered heart transplants

Hypernyms (to "initiate" is one way to...):

cause; do; make (give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "initiate"):

strike up (begin)

innovate; introduce (bring something new to an environment)

activate; actuate; set off; spark; spark off; touch off; trigger; trigger off; trip (put in motion or move to act)

constitute; establish; found; institute; plant (set up or lay the groundwork for)

arrange; stage (plan, organize, and carry out (an event))

mount (put up or launch)

attempt; set about; undertake (enter upon an activity or enterprise)

devise; get up; machinate; organise; organize; prepare (arrange by systematic planning and united effort)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Meaning:

Accept young people into society, usually with some rite

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

induct; initiate

Context example:

African men are initiated when they reach puberty

Hypernyms (to "initiate" is one way to...):

admit; include; let in (allow participation in or the right to be part of; permit to exercise the rights, functions, and responsibilities of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Meaning:

Bring up a topic for discussion

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

broach; initiate

Hypernyms (to "initiate" is one way to...):

discuss; hash out; talk over (speak with others about (something); talk (something) over in detail; have a discussion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "initiate"):

address; cover; deal; handle; plow; treat (deal with verbally or in some form of artistic expression)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Meaning:

Prepare the way for

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

lead up; initiate

Context example:

Hitler's attack on Poland led up to World War II

Hypernyms (to "initiate" is one way to...):

initiate; originate; start (bring into being)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something