INITIATE


Meaning of INITIATE in English

I. i ‧ ni ‧ ti ‧ ate 1 AC /ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]

[ Word Family: verb : ↑ initiate ; noun : ↑ initiation ]

1 . formal to arrange for something important to start, such as an official process or a new plan:

They have decided to initiate legal proceedings against the newspaper.

Intellectuals have initiated a debate on terrorism.

2 . to tell someone about something or show them how to do something

initiate somebody into something

Those kids were initiated into heroin use at a young age.

3 . to introduce someone into an organization, club, group etc, usually with a special ceremony

initiate somebody into something

At the age of thirteen, the boys in the tribe are initiated into manhood.

II. i ‧ ni ‧ ti ‧ ate 2 /ɪˈnɪʃiət, ɪˈnɪʃiɪt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]

someone who has been allowed to join a particular organization, club, or group and has been taught its secrets

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.