institute Definition

institute
noun

1. A society or organization which promotes research, education or a particular cause.

Thesaurus: academy, school, university.
2. A building or group of buildings used by an institute.
3. An established law, principle, rule or custom.
4. A book of laws or principles.

Form: institutes

verb instituted, instituting

rather formal:
1. To set up, establish or organize something.

Example: instituted a trust fund
Thesaurus: organize, found, establish, launch, setup.
2. To initiate something or cause it to begin.

Example: to institute legal proceedings
Thesaurus: begin, initiate, start, open.
3. To appoint someone to, or install them in, a position or office.

Derivative: institutor
noun

Etymology: 14c: from Latin instituere, institutum to establish.