Dictionary entries for 'induce'

Synonyms

in·duce (ĭn-dōōś, -dyōōś)

[Middle English inducen, from Old French inducer, from Latin indūcere, in-, in; see in–², + dūcere, to lead.]

transitive verb: -duced, -duc·ing, -duc·es.

To lead or move, as to a course of action, by influence or persuasion. See synonyms at persuade
To bring about or stimulate the occurrence of; cause: a drug used to induce labor.
To infer by inductive reasoning.
Physics
1. To produce (an electric current or a magnetic charge) by induction.
2. To produce (radioactivity, for example) artificially by bombardment of a substance with neutrons, gamma rays, and other particles.
Biochemistry To initiate or increase the production of (an enzyme or other protein) at the level of genetic transcription.
Genetics To cause an increase in the transcription of the RNA of (a gene).