Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
initial rhyme
Initial Teaching Alphabet
initialise
initialism
initialize
initially
initiate
initiated
initiation
initiative
initiatory
inj.
inject
injectant
injection
injection molding
injector
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "initiati..." in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

initiation

in·i·ti·a·tion [ i nìshee áysh'n ] (plural in·i·ti·a·tions)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. action that makes something start: action that causes something, especially an important process or event, to begin
the initiation of legal proceedings

2. ceremony: a usually secret or mysterious ceremony by which somebody is admitted to a group, organization, or religion ( sometimes used before nouns )
initiation rites

3. introduction to something new: the introduction of somebody to a new activity, interest, or area

[Late 16th century. < Latin initiation-< initiat- (see initiate)]
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
MSN Shopping
Encarta RSS Feeds
© 2008 Microsoft