initial
[ ih-nish-uh l ]
/ ɪˈnɪʃ əl /
adjective
of, relating to, or occurring at the beginning; first: the initial step in a process.
Phonetics. occurring at the beginning of a word or syllable, as the (k) sound of kite, chasm, or quay.
noun
an initial letter, as of a word.
the first letter of a proper name.
a letter of extra size or an ornamental character used at the beginning of a chapter or other division of a book, manuscript, or the like.
verb (used with object), in·i·tialed, in·i·tial·ing or (especially British) in·i·tialled, in·i·tial·ling.
to mark or sign with an initial or the initials of one's name, especially as a token of preliminary or informal approval.
Nearby words
inimitable, inion, iniquitous, iniquity, init., initial, initial code, initial rhyme, initial teaching alphabet, initialism, initialize
Origin of initial
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for initially
British Dictionary definitions for initially
initial
/ (ɪˈnɪʃəl) /
adjective
of, at, or concerning the beginning
noun
the first letter of a word, esp a person's name
printing a large sometimes highly decorated letter set at the beginning of a chapter or work
botany a cell from which tissues and organs develop by division and differentiation; a meristematic cell
verb -tials, -tialling or -tialled or US -tials, -tialing or -tialed
(tr) to sign with one's initials, esp to indicate approval; endorse
Derived Forms
initialer or initialler, nouninitially, adverbWord Origin for initial
C16: from Latin initiālis of the beginning, from initium beginning, literally: an entering upon, from inīre to go in, from in- ² + īre to go
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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