initiate
verb- initiate something (formal)
to make something begin 开始；发起；创始 to initiate legal proceedings against somebody 对某人提起诉讼 The government has initiated a programme of economic reform. 政府已开始实施经济改革方案。
Extra ExamplesAnyone has the right to initiate legislation in Parliament by means of a private bill. 任何人在议会中都有权以私人法案的形式提出立法。 Bacteria then enters the wound and initiates infection. 细菌随后进入伤口并引发感染。 He initiated a national debate on reform. 他发起了一场关于改革的全国性讨论。 The organization may initiate legal action against you. 该组织可能对你提起诉讼。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- formally
- immediately
- recently
- …
- initiate somebody (into something)
to explain something to somebody and/or make them experience it for the first time 使了解；传授；教…开始尝试 Many of them had been initiated into drug use at an early age. 他们中有很多人在早年就被教会了吸毒。 His uncle initiated him into the pleasures of sailing. 他叔叔使他开始享受航海的乐趣。
- initiate somebody (into something)
to make somebody a member of a particular group, especially as part of a secret ceremony （尤指在秘密仪式上）使加入，接纳，吸收
Word Originmid 16th cent. (in sense (3)): from Latin initiat- ‘begun’, from the verb initiare, from initium ‘beginning’.