initial: Meaning and Definition of

in•i•tial

Pronunciation: (i-nish'ul), [key]
— adj., n., v., -tialed, -tial•ing -tialled, -tial•ling.
—adj.
  1. of, pertaining to, or occurring at the beginning; first: the initial step in a process.
  2. occurring at the beginning of a word or syllable, as the (k) sound of kite, chasm, or quay.
—n.
  1. an initial letter, as of a word.
  2. the first letter of a proper name.
  3. a letter of extra size or an ornamental character used at the beginning of a chapter or other division of a book, manuscript, or the like.
—v.t.
  1. to mark or sign with an initial or the initials of one's name, esp. as a token of preliminary or informal approval.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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