initiate

[ verb ih-nish-ee-eyt; adjective, noun ih-nish-ee-it, -eyt ]
/ verb ɪˈnɪʃ iˌeɪt; adjective, noun ɪˈnɪʃ i ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

verb (used with object), in·i·ti·at·ed, in·i·ti·at·ing.

adjective

noun

a person who has been initiated.

Origin of initiate

1595–1605; < Latin initiātus past participle of initiāre, equivalent to initi(um) (see initial) + -ātus -ate1

synonym study for initiate

1. See begin.

OTHER WORDS FROM initiate

Example sentences from the Web for initiator

British Dictionary definitions for initiator (1 of 2)

initiator
/ (ɪˈnɪʃɪˌeɪtə) /

noun

a person or thing that initiates
chem a substance that starts a chain reaction
chem an explosive used in detonators

Derived forms of initiator

initiatress or initiatrix, fem n

British Dictionary definitions for initiator (2 of 2)

initiate

verb (ɪˈnɪʃɪˌeɪt) (tr)

to begin or originate
to accept (new members) into an organization such as a club, through often secret ceremonies
to teach fundamentals to she initiated him into the ballet

adjective (ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)

initiated; begun

noun (ɪˈnɪʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)

a person who has been initiated, esp recently
a beginner; novice

Word Origin for initiate

C17: from Latin initiāre (vb), from initium; see initial