in·duc·tion

[in-duhk-shuhn]
noun
1.
the act of inducing, bringing about, or causing: induction of the hypnotic state.
2.
the act of inducting; introduction; initiation.
3.
formal installation in an office, benefice, or the like.
4.
Logic.
a.
any form of reasoning in which the conclusion, though supported by the premises, does not follow from them necessarily.
b.
the process of estimating the validity of observations of part of a class of facts as evidence for a proposition about the whole class.
c.
a conclusion reached by this process.
5.
Also called mathematical induction. Mathematics. a method of proving a given property true for a set of numbers by proving it true for 1 and then true for an arbitrary positive integer by assuming the property true for all previous positive integers and applying the principle of mathematical induction.
6.
a presentation or bringing forward, as of facts or evidence.
7.
Electricity, Magnetism. the process by which a body having electric or magnetic properties produces magnetism, an electric charge, or an electromotive force in a neighboring body without contact. Compare electromagnetic induction, electrostatic induction.
8.
Embryology. the process or principle by which one part of the embryo influences the differentiation of another part.
9.
Biochemistry. the synthesis of an enzyme in response to an increased concentration of its substrate in the cell.
10.
an introductory unit in literary work, especially in an early play; prelude or scene independent of the main performance but related to it.
11.
Archaic. a preface.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English induccio(u)n < Latin inductiōn- (stem of inductiō). See induct, -ion

Related forms
in·duc·tion·less, adjective
an·ti-in·duc·tion, adjective
pre·in·duc·tion, noun
re·in·duc·tion, noun

Can be confused: deduction, extrapolation, induction, generalization, hypothesis.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
induction (ɪnˈdʌkʃən) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  the act of inducting or state of being inducted
2.  the act of inducing
3.  (in an internal-combustion engine) the part of the action of a piston by which mixed air and fuel are drawn from the carburettor to the cylinder
4.  logic
 a.  a process of reasoning, used esp in science, by which a general conclusion is drawn from a set of premises, based mainly on experience or experimental evidence. The conclusion goes beyond the information contained in the premises, and does not follow necessarily from them. Thus an inductive argument may be highly probable, yet lead from true premises to a false conclusion
 b.  Compare deduction a conclusion reached by this process of reasoning
5.  See also inductance the process by which electrical or magnetic properties are transferred, without physical contact, from one circuit or body to another
6.  biology the effect of one tissue, esp an embryonic tissue, on the development of an adjacent tissue
7.  biochem the process by which synthesis of an enzyme is stimulated by the presence of its substrate
8.  maths, logic
 a.  a method of proving a proposition that all integers have a property, by first proving that 1 has the property and then that if the integer n has it so has n + 1
 b.  the application of recursive rules
9.  a.  a formal introduction or entry into an office or position
 b.  (as modifier): induction course; induction period
10.  (US) the formal enlistment of a civilian into military service
11.  an archaic word for preface
 
in'ductional
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

induction
late 14c., from Fr. induction (14c.), from L. inductionem (nom. inductio), noun of action from inducere "to lead" (see induce). As a term in logic ( 1550s) is from Cicero's use of inductio to translate Gk. epagoge "leading to" in Aristotle; as a term of science, c.1800; military
service sense is from 1934, Amer.Eng. Induction starts with known instances and arrives at generalizations; deduction starts from the general principle and arrives at some individual fact.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

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.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
induction   (ĭn-dŭk'shən)  Pronunciation Key 


(click for larger image in new window)

    1. The process of deriving general principles from particular facts or instances.

    2. A conclusion reached by this process. See Note at deduction.

    3. 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.

    4. 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.

    5. 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.

    1. 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.

    2. 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.

    3. 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 American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary

induction definition


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

induction definition


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

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary

induction definition

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)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org
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Example sentences
Today electricity can be transmitted via magnetic induction in such things as
  security swipe cards.
The positively-charged leaves repel, giving a rough measure of the strength of
  the induction.
It's an induction hob which lets you place pots and pans anywhere on the
  cooktop.
Music with a rapid tempo, and written in a major key, correlated precisely with
  the induction of happiness.
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