Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

in·duc·tion       (ĭn-dŭk'shən)  Pronunciation Key  n.   The act or an instance of inducting. A ceremony or formal act by which a person is inducted, as into office or military service. The generation of electromotive force in a closed circuit by a varying magnetic flux through the circuit. The charging of an isolated conducting object by momentarily grounding it while a charged body is nearby. The process of deriving general principles from particular facts or instances. A conclusion reached by this process. Medicine The inducing of labor, whereby labor is initiated artificially with drugs such as oxytocin. Medicine The administration of anesthetic agents and the establishment of a depth of anesthesia adequate for surgery. Biochemistry The process of initiating or increasing the production of an enzyme, as in genetic transcription. Embryology The process by which one part of an embryo causes adjacent tissues or parts to change form or shape, as by the diffusion of hormones or other chemicals. Electricity The generation of electromotive force in a closed circuit by a varying magnetic flux through the circuit. The charging of an isolated conducting object by momentarily grounding it while a charged body is nearby. The process of deriving general principles from particular facts or instances. A conclusion reached by this process. Medicine The inducing of labor, whereby labor is initiated artificially with drugs such as oxytocin. Medicine The administration of anesthetic agents and the establishment of a depth of anesthesia adequate for surgery. Biochemistry The process of initiating or increasing the production of an enzyme, as in genetic transcription. Embryology The process by which one part of an embryo causes adjacent tissues or parts to change form or shape, as by the diffusion of hormones or other chemicals. Logic The process of deriving general principles from particular facts or instances. A conclusion reached by this process. Medicine The inducing of labor, whereby labor is initiated artificially with drugs such as oxytocin. Medicine The administration of anesthetic agents and the establishment of a depth of anesthesia adequate for surgery. Biochemistry The process of initiating or increasing the production of an enzyme, as in genetic transcription. Embryology The process by which one part of an embryo causes adjacent tissues or parts to change form or shape, as by the diffusion of hormones or other chemicals. Mathematics A two-part method of proving a theorem involving an integral parameter. First the theorem is verified for the smallest admissible value of the integer. Then it is proven that if the theorem is true for any value of the integer, it is true for the next greater value. The final proof contains the two parts. The act or process of inducing or bringing about, as: Medicine The inducing of labor, whereby labor is initiated artificially with drugs such as oxytocin. Medicine The administration of anesthetic agents and the establishment of a depth of anesthesia adequate for surgery. Biochemistry The process of initiating or increasing the production of an enzyme, as in genetic transcription. Embryology The process by which one part of an embryo causes adjacent tissues or parts to change form or shape, as by the diffusion of hormones or other chemicals. Presentation of material, such as facts or evidence, in support of an argument or proposition. A preface or prologue, especially to an early English play.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

induction
noun
1.	a formal entry into an organization or position or office; "his initiation into the club"; "he was ordered to report for induction into the army"; "he gave a speech as part of his installation into the hall of fame" [syn: initiation]
2.	an electrical phenomenon whereby an electromotive force (EMF) is generated in a closed circuit by a change in the flow of current
3.	reasoning from detailed facts to general principles [syn: generalization]
4.	stimulation that calls up (draws forth) a particular class of behaviors; "the elicitation of his testimony was not easy" [syn: evocation]
5.	the act of bringing about something (especially at an early time); "the induction of an anesthetic state"
6.	an act that sets in motion some course of events [syn: trigger]

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

induction       (ĭn-dŭk'shən)  Pronunciation Key  (click for larger image in new window) The process of deriving general principles from particular facts or instances. A conclusion reached by this process. See Note at deduction. The creation of a voltage difference across a conductive material (such as a coil of wire) by exposing it to a changing magnetic field. Induction is fundamental to hydroelectric power, in which water-powered turbines spin wire coils through strong magnetic fields. It is also the working principle underlying transformers and induction coils. The generation of an electric current in a conductor, such as a copper wire, by exposing it to the electric field of an electrically charged conductor. The building up of a net electric charge on a conductive material by separating its charge to create two oppositely charged regions, then bleeding off the charge from one region. The creation of a voltage difference across a conductive material (such as a coil of wire) by exposing it to a changing magnetic field. Induction is fundamental to hydroelectric power, in which water-powered turbines spin wire coils through strong magnetic fields. It is also the working principle underlying transformers and induction coils. The generation of an electric current in a conductor, such as a copper wire, by exposing it to the electric field of an electrically charged conductor. The building up of a net electric charge on a conductive material by separating its charge to create two oppositely charged regions, then bleeding off the charge from one region.

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
induction

A process of reasoning that moves from specific instances to predict general principles. (Compare deduction.)

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
induction

An effect in electrical systems in which electrical currents store energy temporarily in magnetic fields before that energy is returned to the circuit.

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

induction in·duc·tion (ĭn-dŭk'shən)
n.

1. The process of initiating or increasing the production of an enzyme or other protein at the level of genetic transcription.
2. The period from the first administration of anesthesia to the establishment of a depth of anesthesia adequate for surgery.
3. The change in form or shape caused by the action of one tissue of an embryo on adjacent tissues or parts, as by the diffusion of hormones.
4. A modification imposed upon the offspring by the action of environment on the germ cells of one or both parents.
5. The generation of electromotive force in a closed circuit by a varying magnetic flux through the circuit.

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

induction logic
A method of proving statements about well-ordered sets. If S is a well-ordered set with ordering "<", and we want to show that a property P holds for every element of S, it is sufficient to show that, for all s in S,
IF for all t in S, t < s => P(t) THEN P(s)
I.e. if P holds for anything less than s then it holds for s. In this case we say P is proved by induction.
The most common instance of proof by induction is induction over the natural numbers where we prove that some property holds for n=0 and that if it holds for n, it holds for n+1.
(In fact it is sufficient for "<" to be a well-founded partial order on S, not necessarily a well-ordering of S.)
(1999-12-09)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Induction

In*duc"tion\, n. [L. inductio: cf. F. induction. See Induct.]

1. The act or process of inducting or bringing in; introduction; entrance; beginning; commencement.

I know not you; nor am I well pleased to make this time, as the affair now stands, the induction of your acquaintance. --Beau. & Fl.

These promises are fair, the parties sure, And our induction dull of prosperous hope. --Shak.

2. An introduction or introductory scene, as to a play; a preface; a prologue. [Obs.]

This is but an induction: I will d?aw The curtains of the tragedy hereafter. --Massinger.

3. (Philos.) The act or process of reasoning from a part to a whole, from particulars to generals, or from the individual to the universal; also, the result or inference so reached.

Induction is an inference drawn from all the particulars. --Sir W. Hamilton.

Induction is the process by which we conclude that what is true of certain individuals of a class, is true of the whole class, or that what is true at certain times will be true in similar circumstances at all times. --J. S. Mill.

4. The introduction of a clergyman into a benefice, or of an official into a office, with appropriate acts or ceremonies; the giving actual possession of an ecclesiastical living or its temporalities.

5. (Math.) A process of demonstration in which a general truth is gathered from an examination of particular cases, one of which is known to be true, the examination being so conducted that each case is made to depend on the preceding one; -- called also successive induction.

6. (Physics) The property by which one body, having electrical or magnetic polarity, causes or induces it in another body without direct contact; an impress of electrical or magnetic force or condition from one body on another without actual contact.

Electro-dynamic induction, the action by which a variable or interrupted current of electricity excites another current in a neighboring conductor forming a closed circuit.

Electro-magnetic induction, the influence by which an electric current produces magnetic polarity in certain bodies near or around which it passes.

Electro-static induction, the action by which a body possessing a charge of statical electricity develops a charge of statical electricity of the opposite character in a neighboring body.

Induction coil, an apparatus producing induced currents of great intensity. It consists of a coil or helix of stout insulated copper wire, surrounded by another coil of very fine insulated wire, in which a momentary current is induced, when a current (as from a voltaic battery), passing through the inner coil, is made, broken, or varied. The inner coil has within it a core of soft iron, and is connected at its terminals with a condenser; -- called also inductorium, and Ruhmkorff's coil.

Induction pipe, port, or valve, a pipe, passageway, or valve, for leading or admitting a fluid to a receiver, as steam to an engine cylinder, or water to a pump.

Magnetic induction, the action by which magnetic polarity is developed in a body susceptible to magnetic effects when brought under the influence of a magnet.

Magneto-electric induction, the influence by which a magnet excites electric currents in closed circuits.

Logical induction, (Philos.), an act or method of reasoning from all the parts separately to the whole which they constitute, or into which they may be united collectively; the operation of discovering and proving general propositions; the scientific method.

Philosophical induction, the inference, or the act of inferring, that what has been observed or established in respect to a part, individual, or species, may, on the ground of analogy, be affirmed or received of the whole to which it belongs. This last is the inductive method of Bacon. It ascends from the parts to the whole, and forms, from the general analogy of nature, or special presumptions in the case, conclusions which have greater or less degrees of force, and which may be strengthened or weakened by subsequent experience and experiment. It relates to actual existences, as in physical science or the concerns of life. Logical induction is founded on the necessary laws of thought; philosophical induction, on the interpretation of the indications or analogy of nature.

Syn: Deduction.

Usage: Induction, Deduction. In induction we observe a sufficient number of individual facts, and, on the ground of analogy, extend what is true of them to others of the same class, thus arriving at general principles or laws. This is the kind of reasoning in physical science. In deduction we begin with a general truth, which is already proven or provisionally assumed, and seek to connect it with some particular case by means of a middle term, or class of objects, known to be equally connected with both. Thus, we bring down the general into the particular, affirming of the latter the distinctive qualities of the former. This is the syllogistic method. By induction Franklin established the identity of lightning and electricity; by deduction he inferred that dwellings might be protected by lightning rods.