kənˈsɛpʃən kɹiːˈeɪʃən dɪˈzaɪn faʊnˈdeɪʃən ˈfaʊndɪŋ ɪ.nɪ.ʃi.ˈeɪ.ʃən ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃən ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃən ˌɪntɹəˈdʌkʃən ɪnˈvɛnʃən the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new she looked forward to her initiation as an adult the foundation of a new scientific society a creation (a new device or process) resulting from study and experimentation the creation of something in the mind