induce
Definitions
To succeed in persuading or influencing someone to do something.
诱使；说服
To cause something, especially a physical or chemical state.
引起；导致（状态、反应）
(Medical) to bring on labor artificially.
（医学）引产
(Logic) to reach a conclusion by inductive reasoning.
（逻辑）归纳推理
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedin- (into) + duce (lead) = 'to lead into.' Inducing leads someone into an action, leads a body into a state (sleep, labor), or leads the mind into a conclusion. The «into» direction is consistent across senses.
Root duc still carries 35 more wordsWhy It Means This
Induce is the «cause / bring on» verb of the duc family. Its four uses share «leading into a state»: 1) persuade (lead into an action) — «I induced her to come»; 2) cause a physiological state (induce sleep, induce vomiting, induce labor); 3) chemistry/physics (induce a current, induce a reaction); 4) logic (induce a generalization from observations — inductive vs deductive reasoning). The medical sense («induced labor») is very common in pregnancy discussions.
Usage Guide
- Persuade: 'induce someone to do' — gentler than force
- Cause (physiological): 'induce sleep,' 'induce vomiting,' 'induce labor' — medical / scientific
- Cause (technical): 'induce a current' — physics
- Logic: 'induce a generalization' — inductive reasoning (vs deductive)
- Stress: in-DUCE
Example Sentences
- 1.
Nothing could induce her to change her mind.
- 2.
The doctor decided to induce labor.
- 3.
Magnetic fields can induce electric currents.