induction
induction — noun
1. a formal ceremony at which a person becomes an official member of a group, organ
a formal ceremony at which a person becomes an official member of a group, organization, or position.
João's induction into the Hall of Fame was attended by hundreds of cheering fans.
induction into + group/position
The mayor gave a speech at the induction ceremony for the new fire chief.
collocation: induction ceremony
Naoko received a formal letter of invitation to her cousin's medical association induction.
The presidential induction takes place on the steps of the Capitol building in January.
- initiation
less formal and often implies a ritual within a smaller group rather than a public ceremony
- installation
focuses on putting someone into an official position, often a political or religious role
- investiture
very formal; usually involves handing over symbols of authority like a robe or a medal
文法句型
induction + into + organization/group/position
用法筆記
Commonly paired with 'into' to specify the group or position (e.g. induction into the army, induction into the Hall of Fame).
常見錯誤
2. a period of time during which a person who has just joined a company or organiza
a period of time during which a person who has just joined a company or organization learns about how it works, its rules, and its people.
All new employees complete a two-week induction before they start their real jobs.
collocation: two-week induction
Darius found the induction programme helpful because it explained the office systems clearly.
collocation: induction programme
During induction, new staff visit each department and meet their team leaders.
The company provides an online induction course for remote workers who cannot attend in person.
- orientation
the standard term in American English; 'induction' sounds more British
- onboarding
modern business term covering the entire process of integrating a new hire, not just the training period
文法句型
induction + noun (programme/course/day)
用法筆記
Much more common in British English than American English. In the US, 'orientation' is the usual term for this concept.
常見錯誤
3. the act of deliberately making a process or event begin, especially the medical
the act of deliberately making a process or event begin, especially the medical procedure of starting a woman's labor using drugs.
The doctor recommended induction of labor because the baby was two weeks overdue.
collocation: induction of labor
Élise studied the effects of drug induction on sleep patterns in hospital patients.
The induction of vomiting is sometimes necessary after a child swallows something poisonous.
A scheduled induction allows the medical team to be ready for the birth.
- initiation
gentler and broader; does not carry the medical connotation of 'induction'
- triggering
more informal and suggests a quick, direct cause rather than a deliberate medical process
- prevention
an act that stops something from happening rather than making it begin
文法句型
induction + of + process/event
用法筆記
When used without qualification in a medical context, 'induction' most commonly refers to inducing labor. In general contexts, specify the process (e.g. 'induction of sleep,' 'induction of vomiting').
常見錯誤
4. a way of thinking that starts with specific facts or examples and reaches a gene
a way of thinking that starts with specific facts or examples and reaches a general rule or principle based on them.
Through induction, scientists learned that heavy objects fall at the same speed regardless of weight.
prepositional phrase: through induction
Induction and deduction are two basic methods of reasoning used in philosophy and science.
Kevin used induction to predict rising sales after seeing three months of strong data.
A conclusion reached by induction can never be proven with total certainty.
- inference
broader term that covers both induction and deduction; refers to any conclusion reached from evidence
- generalization
less formal; describes the result of induction rather than the method itself
- deduction
reasoning from a general principle to a specific case — the opposite direction of logical movement
文法句型
by induction
induction + from + specific instances
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (ceremony) and sense 5 (electricity) — this sense belongs to formal reasoning. In academic writing, 'induction' is often paired with 'deduction' as the two broad categories of logical inference.
常見錯誤
5. a physical phenomenon in which an electric current or magnetic effect appears in
a physical phenomenon in which an electric current or magnetic effect appears in an object because a second object is near it, without any direct contact between them.
Wireless phone chargers use electromagnetic induction to transfer power across a short gap.
collocation: electromagnetic induction
Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction in the early nineteenth century.
The metal detector works on the principle of induction between two coils of wire.
A moving magnet creates an electric current in a nearby coil through induction.
文法句型
electromagnetic induction
magnetic induction
用法筆記
Frequently modified by 'electromagnetic' or 'magnetic' to distinguish this scientific concept from other meanings of the word. The verb form is 'induce' (e.g. 'a moving magnet induces a current').
常見錯誤
6. a method of cooking that uses an electromagnetic field produced by coils under t
a method of cooking that uses an electromagnetic field produced by coils under the surface to heat pots and pans directly, without a flame or heated ring.
Eshe replaced her old gas stove with an induction cooktop that uses less energy.
collocation: induction cooktop
You need special pans made of magnetic metal for induction cooking to work properly.
Induction hobs heat a pan much faster than traditional electric or gas cooktops.
Professional chefs often prefer induction because the surface stays cool and is easy to clean.
文法句型
induction + cooking/hob/cooktop
用法筆記
This sense is a practical application of electromagnetic induction (sense 5). In British English, the flat cooking surface is called an 'induction hob'; in American English it is called an 'induction cooktop.'