initial
[ ih-nish-uh l ]
/ ɪˈnɪʃ əl /
adjective
of, relating to, or occurring at the beginning; first: the initial step in a process.
Phonetics.
occurring at the beginning of a word or syllable, as the (k) sound of kite, chasm, or quay.
noun
an initial letter, as of a word.
the first letter of a proper name.
a letter of extra size or an ornamental character used at the beginning of a chapter or other division of a book, manuscript, or the like.
verb (used with object), in·i·tialed, in·i·tial·ing or (especially British) in·i·tialled, in·i·tial·ling.
to mark or sign with an initial or the initials of one's name, especially as a token of preliminary or informal approval.
Origin of initial
OTHER WORDS FROM initial
Words nearby initial
inimitable,
inion,
iniquitous,
iniquity,
init.,
initial,
initial code,
initial rhyme,
initial teaching alphabet,
initialism,
initialize
Example sentences from the Web for initials
British Dictionary definitions for initials
initial
/ (ɪˈnɪʃəl) /
adjective
of, at, or concerning the beginning
noun
the first letter of a word, esp a person's name
printing
a large sometimes highly decorated letter set at the beginning of a chapter or work
botany
a cell from which tissues and organs develop by division and differentiation; a meristematic cell
verb -tials, -tialling or -tialled or US -tials, -tialing or -tialed
(tr)
to sign with one's initials, esp to indicate approval; endorse
Derived forms of initial
initialer or initialler, noun initially, adverbWord Origin for initial
C16: from Latin
initiālis of the beginning, from
initium beginning, literally: an entering upon, from
inīre to go in, from
in- ² +
īre to go