v.
1 begin, commence, enter upon or on, originate, introduce, set in motion, start, give rise to, get under way, launch, get or set going, trigger, set off, actuate, activate, instigate, institute, inaugurate:
The programme was initiated last spring with much fanfare.
2 admit, accept, introduce:
The new members were initiated last night, with due ceremony.
3 teach, instruct, train, tutor, drill, coach:
His responsibility is to initiate recruits in the rudiments of jungle warfare.
n.
4 novice, beginner, new boy or girl, greenhorn, rookie, neophyte, tiro or tyro, newcomer, tenderfoot, fledgling, apprentice, (raw) recruit, abecedarian, noviciate or novitiate, catechumen, Brit fresher or US only freshman, Australian new chum:
In the first weeks, initiates are drilled in the basics.