in·duce (ĭn-ds, -dys)
tr.v. in·duced, in·duc·ing, in·duc·es
1. To lead or move, as to a course of action, by influence or persuasion. See Synonyms at persuade.
2. To bring about or stimulate the occurrence of; cause: a drug used to induce labor.
3. To infer by inductive reasoning.
a. To produce (an electric current or a magnetic charge) by induction.
b. To produce (radioactivity, for example) artificially by bombardment of a substance with neutrons, gamma rays, and other particles.
5. Biochemistry To initiate or increase the production of (an enzyme or other protein) at the level of genetic transcription.
6. Genetics To cause an increase in the transcription of the RNA of (a gene).
[Middle English inducen, from Old French inducer, from Latin indūcere : in-, in; see IN-2 + dūcere, to lead; see deuk- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2019 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices
Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:
The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.