Definition of initial Initial

/ɪnɪˈʃʌl/ - [inishul] - in•i•tial

We found 19 definitions of initial from 6 different sources.

What does initial mean?

Noun Plural: initials
initial - the first letter of a word (especially a person's name); "he refused to put the initials FRS after his name"
		alphabetic character, letter of the alphabet, letter a written message addressed to a person or organization; "mailed an indignant letter to the editor"
Verb initials, initialing, initialed
initial - mark with one's initials
		sign be engaged by a written agreement; "He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18"; "The soprano signed to sing the new opera"
Adjective
initial - occurring at the beginning; "took the initial step toward reconciliation"

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initial (Noun)
The first letter of a word or a name.
initial (Noun)
In plural, the first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit.
initial (Noun)
A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.
initial (Noun)
onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.
initial (Verb)
To sign one's initials, as an abbreviated signature.
initial (Adjective)
Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.
initial (Adjective)
Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word.

initial (a.)
Of or pertaining to the beginning; marking the commencement; incipient; commencing; as, the initial symptoms of a disease.
initial (a.)
Placed at the beginning; standing at the head, as of a list or series; as, the initial letters of a name.
initial (n.)
The first letter of a word or a name.
initial (v. t.)
To put an initial to; to mark with an initial of initials.

initial
in-ish′al, adj. commencing: placed at the beginning.—n. the letter beginning a word, esp. a name.—v.t. to put the initials of one's name to:—pr.p. init′ialing (-alling); pa.p. init′ialed (-alled).—v.t. Init′iāte, to make a beginning: to instruct in principles: to acquaint with: to introduce into a new state or society.—v.i. to perform the first act or rite.—n. one who is initiated.—adj. fresh: unpractised.—n. Initiā′tion, act or process of initiating: act of admitting to any society, by instructing in its rules and ceremonies.—adj. Init′iātive, serving to initiate: introductory.—n. an introductory step: the power or right of commencing.—adj. Init′iātory, tending to initiate: introductory.—n. introductory rite. [L. initialis—initium, a beginning, inīre, inītum—in, into, īre, ītum, to go.]

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initial in sign language