induce Definition

induce
verb induced, inducing

1. To persuade, influence or cause someone to do something.

Example: tried to induce her to move back home
Thesaurus: persuade, convince, influence, urge, wheedle.
2. obstetrics.
To initiate or hasten (labour) by artificial means, especially by administering a drug to stimulate contractions of the womb.
3. To make something happen or appear.

Thesaurus: cause, produce, initiate, begin, make, effect.
4. To produce or transmit (an electromotive force) by induction.
5. biol.
To cause (an embryonic non-specialized cell) to become specialized.
6. To activate (a virus or a gene) in response to a specific stimulus.
7. To cause the synthesis of enzymes in response to a specific molecule.
8. logic.
To infer or come to (eg a general conclusion) from particular cases.

Derivative: inducible
adj

Etymology: 14c: from Latin inducere to lead in.