Etymology : Middle English, from Latin inducere, from in- + ducere to lead; more at TOW
Pronunciation : in-düs, -dyüs
Function : transitive verb
Date : 14th century
1. cause, bring about, set in motion; influence, persuade, impel; infer, deduce, derive a general proposition from certain facts; produce by means of induction (Physics). induce\in*duce"\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. induced ; p. pr. & vb. n. inducing .] [l. inducere, inductum; pref. in- in + ducere to lead. see:
duke, and cf. induct.].
2. to lead in; to introduce. [obs.] the poet may be seen inducing his personages in the first iliad.
3. to draw on; to overspread. [a latinism].
4. to lead on; to influence; to prevail on; to incite; to move by persuasion or influence. he is not obliged by your offer to do it, though he may be induced, persuaded, prevailed upon, tempted. let not the covetous desire of growing rich induce you to ruin your reputation.
5. to bring on; to effect; to cause; as, a fever induced by fatigue or exposure. sour things induces a contraction in the nerves.
6. (physics) to produce, or cause, by proximity without contact or transmission, as a particular electric or magnetic condition in a body, by the approach of another body in an opposite electric or magnetic state.
7. (logic) to generalize or conclude as an inference from all the particulars; -- the opposite of deduce.
8. To lead in; to introduce.
9. To draw on; to overspread.
10. To lead on; to influence; to prevail on; to incite; to move by persuasion or influence.
11. To bring on; to effect; to cause; as, a fever induced by fatigue or exposure.
12. To produce, or cause, by proximity without contact or transmission, as a particular electric or magnetic condition in a body, by the approach of another body in an opposite electric or magnetic state.
13. To generalize or conclude as an inference from all the particulars; the opposite of deduce. reason or establish by induction cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; "The ads induced me to buy a VCR"; "My children finally got me to buy a computer"; "My wife made me buy a new sofa" cause to arise; "induce a crisis" cause to occur rapidly; "the infection precipitated a high fever and allergic reactions" produce electric current by electrostatic or magnetic processes.
14. 1. To induce a state or condition means to cause it. Doctors said surgery could induce a heart attack. an economic crisis induced by high oil prices.
15. If you induce someone to do something, you persuade or influence them to do it. More than 4,000 teachers were induced to take early retirement. = persuade.
16. If a doctor or nurse induces labour or birth, they cause a pregnant woman to start giving birth by using drugs or other medical means. He might decide that it is best to induce labour.