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induction

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The definition of induction is the act of causing something to happen or an initiation ceremony.

(noun)

An example of induction is causing a woman to go into labor.
An example of induction is a ceremony welcoming new members of the military.

See induction in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

an inducting or being inducted; installation, initiation, etc.
Archaic an introduction; preface or prelude
an inducing, or bringing about
a bringing forward of separate facts or instances, esp. so as to prove a general statement
Embryology the influence of one tissue upon the development of adjacent tissue, as by the diffusion of a chemical substance to nearby tissue
Logic reasoning from particular facts or individual cases to a general conclusion; also, a conclusion reached by such reasoning
Math. a method of proving a theorem which holds true for all whole numbers greater than or equal to some first number, by demonstrating that it holds true for the first number and by showing that, if it holds true for all the subsequent numbers preceding a given number, then it must hold for the next following number
in full mathematical induction
Physics
1. the act or process by which an electric or magnetic effect is produced in an electrical conductor or magnetizable body when it is exposed to the influence or variation of a field of force
2. the transference of the explosive mixture of air and fuel from the carburetor to the cylinder of an internal-combustion engine

Origin: OFr < L inductio

See induction in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. The act or an instance of inducting.
b. A ceremony or formal act by which a person is inducted, as into office or military service.
Electricity
a. The generation of electromotive force in a closed circuit by a varying magnetic flux through the circuit.
b. The charging of an isolated conducting object by momentarily grounding it while a charged body is nearby.
Logic
a. The process of deriving general principles from particular facts or instances.
b. A conclusion reached by this process.
Mathematics A two-part method of proving a theorem involving an integral parameter. First the theorem is verified for the smallest admissible value of the integer. Then it is proven that if the theorem is true for any value of the integer, it is true for the next greater value. The final proof contains the two parts.
The act or process of inducing or bringing about, as:
a. Medicine The inducing of labor, whereby labor is initiated artificially with drugs such as oxytocin.
b. Medicine The administration of anesthetic agents and the establishment of a depth of anesthesia adequate for surgery.
c. Biochemistry The process of initiating or increasing the production of an enzyme, as in genetic transcription.
d. Embryology The process by which one part of an embryo causes adjacent tissues or parts to change form or shape, as by the diffusion of hormones or other chemicals.
Presentation of material, such as facts or evidence, in support of an argument or proposition.
A preface or prologue, especially to an early English play.