induction

in·duc·tion

noun \in-ˈdək-shən\

Definition of INDUCTION

1

a : the act or process of inducting (as into office)

b : an initial experience : initiation

c : the formality by which a civilian is inducted into military service

2

a (1) : inference of a generalized conclusion from particular instances — compare deduction 2a (2) : a conclusion arrived at by induction

b : mathematical demonstration of the validity of a law concerning all the positive integers by proving that it holds for the integer 1 and that if it holds for an arbitrarily chosen positive integer k, it must hold for the integer k + 1 —called also mathematical induction

3

: a preface, prologue, or introductory scene especially of an early English play

4

a : the act of bringing forward or adducing (as facts or particulars)

b : the act of causing or bringing on or about

c : the process by which an electrical conductor becomes electrified when near a charged body, by which a magnetizable body becomes magnetized when in a magnetic field or in the magnetic flux set up by a magnetomotive force, or by which an electromotive force is produced in a circuit by varying the magnetic field linked with the circuit

d : the inspiration of the fuel-air charge from the carburetor into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine

e : the process by which the fate of embryonic cells is determined (as by the action of adjacent cells) and morphogenetic differentiation brought about

Examples of INDUCTION

1. Many people attended the bishop's induction.
2. The induction ceremony was held at a banquet hall.
3. the registration and induction of draftees

First Known Use of INDUCTION

14th century

Related to INDUCTION

Synonyms

baptism, inaugural, inauguration, installation, initiation, installment (also instalment), investiture, investment

Related Words

enlistment, enrollment (also enrolment); promotion

Near Antonyms

discharge, removal

Other Logic Terms

a posteriori, connotation, corollary, inference, mutually exclusive, paradox, postulate, syllogism

Rhymes with INDUCTION

abduction, adduction, conduction, construction, deduction, destruction, eduction, effluxion, instruction, obstruction, production, reduction, seduction, subduction, transduction

in·duc·tion

noun \in-ˈdək-shən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of INDUCTION

1

: the act of causing or bringing on or about <induction of labor>; specifically : the establishment of the initial state of anesthesia often with an agent other than that used subsequently to maintain the anesthetic state

2

: the process by which an electrical conductor becomes electrified when near a charged body, by which a magnetizable body becomes magnetized when in a magnetic field or in the magnetic flux set up by a magnetomotive force, or by which an electromotive force is produced in a circuit by varying the magnetic field linked with the circuit

3

a : arousal of a part or area (as of the retina) by stimulation of an adjacent part or area b : the process by which the fate of embryonic cells is determined (as by the action of adjacent cells) and morphogenetic differentiation brought about

—in·duct \in-ˈdəkt\ (audio pronunciation) transitive verb

induction

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In logic, a type of nonvalid inference or argument in which the premises provide some reason for believing that the conclusion is true. Typical forms of inductive argument include reasoning from a part to a whole, from the particular to the general, and from a sample to an entire population. Induction is traditionally contrasted with deduction. Many of the problems of inductive logic, including what is known as the problem of induction, have been treated in studies of the methodology of the natural sciences. See also John Stuart Mill; philosophy of science; scientific method.