initiation

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ɪˌnɪʃɪˈeɪʃən/ 🇺🇸 /ˌɪˌnɪʃiːˈeɪʃən/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The act or process of initiating or beginning something; the commencement of an action, process, or series of events.; A formal ceremony or rite of admission into a group, organization, society, or secret order, often involving tests or rituals.; The process of being introduced to or gaining knowledge of a particular subject, skill, or area of experience.; In biochemistry, the first stage of a process such as transcription or translation, where the molecular machinery assembles at the starting point.; In chemistry, the first step in a chain reaction, typically involving the generation of reactive species such as free radicals.; In anthropology and religion, a rite of passage marking the transition from one social or spiritual status to another, such as from childhood to adulthood.; The act of introducing someone to a new experience, often one that is challenging or transformative.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable / uncountable Plural: initiations

Collocations

initiation ceremonyinitiation riteinitiation intoinitiation processinitiation feeundergo an initiation

Derivatives

initiateinitiativeinitiatorinitiatoryreinitiation

Synonyms

inductioninaugurationadmissioninstallationintroductioninvestiture

Antonyms

terminationconclusionexpulsion

Commonly confused

initiative
EN: 'Initiative' refers to a new plan or the ability to act independently; 'initiation' refers to the act or ceremony of being admitted or beginning something.
initiator
EN: 'Initiator' is the person or thing that starts something; 'initiation' is the process or ceremony itself.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the pattern: 'initi-a-tion' — it contains four 'i's total and a single 't' before '-ation'. Common errors include writing 'initation' or 'iniciation'.

💬 Examples

  1. The initiation of the project was delayed due to funding issues.

  2. The fraternity's initiation involved a series of challenges that new members had to complete.

  3. Her first trip to Paris was an initiation into the world of fine art and culture.

  4. The initiation of transcription requires the binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter region.

  5. The initiation step of the polymerization reaction involves the decomposition of the initiator molecule.

  6. The tribe's initiation ceremony marked the boys' transition into manhood.

  7. The harsh winter storm was his initiation into the realities of mountain life.