induce Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb cause to arise
    bring on.
    • induce a crisis
  2. verb cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner
    get; make; have; cause; stimulate.
    • 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
  3. verb cause to occur rapidly
    rush; hasten; stimulate.
    • the infection precipitated a high fever and allergic reactions
  4. verb reason or establish by induction
  5. verb produce electric current by electrostatic or magnetic processes
    induct.

WordNet

In*duce" transitive verb
Etymology
L. inducere, inductum; pref. in- in + ducere to lead. See Duke, and cf. Induct.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Induced ; present participle & verbal noun Inducing
Definitions
  1. To lead in; to introduce. Obs.
    The poet may be seen inducing his personages in the first Iliad. Pope.
  2. To draw on; to overspread. [A Latinism] Cowper.
  3. To lead on; to influence; to prevail on; to incite; to move by persuasion or influence. Shak.
    He is not obliged by your offer to do it, . . . though he may be induced, persuaded, prevailed upon, tempted. Paley.
    Let not the covetous desire of growing rich induce you to ruin your reputation. Dryden.
  4. To bring on; to effect; to cause; as, a fever induced by fatigue or exposure.
    Sour things induces a contraction in the nerves. Bacon.
  5. (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.
  6. (Logic) To generalize or conclude as an inference from all the particulars; -- the opposite of deduce. Syn. -- To move; instigate; urge; impel; incite; press; influence; actuate.

Webster 1913