First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
induce
verb in·duce \in-ˈdüs, -ˈdyüs\
: to cause (someone or something) to do something
: to cause (something) to happen or exist
medical : to give (a pregnant woman) special medicine in order to make her give birth : to cause (labor or birth) to begin by giving special drugs to a pregnant woman
in·ducedin·duc·ing
Full Definition of INDUCE
transitive verb
1
a : to move by persuasion or influence b : to call forth or bring about by influence or stimulation
2
3
: to determine by induction; specifically : to infer from particulars
See induce defined for English-language learners
See induce defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of INDUCE
Middle English, from Anglo-French inducer, from Latin inducere, from in- + ducere to lead — more at tow
Related to INDUCE
Other Logic Terms
Rhymes with INDUCE
Aarhus, abstruse, abuse, adduce, Atreus, blue spruce, burnoose, caboose, Cayuse, Cepheus, ceruse, charmeuse, chartreuse, Chartreuse, conduce, couscous, cut loose, deduce, diffuse, disuse, educe, effuse, excuse, fair use, footloose, hang loose, Lanús, misuse, mongoose, Morpheus, negus, obtuse, Orpheus, papoose, Peleus, Perseus, prepuce, produce, profuse, Proteus, Purus, recluse, red spruce, reduce, refuse, retuse, reuse, Sanctus, seduce, slip noose, snow goose, Tereus, Theseus, traduce, transduce, turn loose, unloose, vamoose
INDUCING Defined for Kids
induce
verb in·duce \in-ˈdüs, -ˈdyüs\
in·ducedin·duc·ing
Definition of INDUCE for Kids
1
: to cause to do something <Her pleas induced us to give.>
2
: to bring about <Warm milk induces sleepiness.>
3
: to produce (as an electric current) by induction
Word Root of INDUCE
The Latin word ducere, meaning “to lead,” and its form ductus give us the roots duc and duct. Words from the Latin ducere have something to do with leading. A duct is a tube that leads from one place or organ to another. To educate, or teach, is to lead to knowledge. To induce is to lead into a particular state.
Medical Dictionary
induce
transitive verb in·duce \in-ˈd(y)üs\
in·ducedin·duc·ing
Medical Definition of INDUCE
1
: to cause or bring about <anesthesia induced by drugs>: as a (1) : to cause the embryological formation of <the optic cup induces lens tissue in the adjacent ectoderm> (2) : to cause to form through embryonic induction <induce ectoderm to form a neural tube> b : to cause or initiate by artificial means <induced abortion> <induced labor>
2
: to produce anesthesia in <the patient was induced by a mixture of thiopental and curare>
Learn More About INDUCE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: induced developmentPrevious Word in the Dictionary: indubitableAll Words Near: induce
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up induce? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).