WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•duc•er
(in do̅o̅′sər, -dyo̅o̅′-),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- Developmental Biology, Biochemistry[Biochem.]a substance that has the capability of activating genes within a cell.
- Developmental Biology[Embryol.]a part that influences differentiation of another part.
- induce + -er1 1545–55, for an earlier sense
in•duce /ɪnˈdus, -ˈdyus/USA pronunciation
v., -duced, -duc•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to move (someone) by persuasion: [~ + object]The unsuccessful job interview induced a sense of failure in him.[~ + object + to + verb]See if you can induce him to stay.
- to bring about or cause:[~ + object]Carbohydrates eaten in the late evening induce sleep.
- Electricity[~ + object] to produce (an electric current) by induction.
in•duce
(in do̅o̅s′, -dyo̅o̅s′),USA pronunciation v.t., -duced, -duc•ing.
in•duc′i•ble, adj.
- to lead or move by persuasion or influence, as to some action or state of mind:to induce a person to buy a raffle ticket.
- to bring about, produce, or cause:That medicine will induce sleep.
- Physicsto produce (an electric current) by induction.
- Philosophy[Logic.]to assert or establish (a proposition about a class of phenomena) on the basis of observations on a number of particular facts.
- Geneticsto increase expression of (a gene) by inactivating a negative control system or activating a positive control system;
derepress. - Biochemistryto stimulate the synthesis of (a protein, esp. an enzyme) by increasing gene transcription.
- Latin indūcere to lead or bring in, introduce, equivalent. to in- in-2 + dūcere to lead; compare adduce, deduce, reduce
- Middle English 1325–75
- 1. actuate, prompt, incite, urge, spur. See persuade.
- 1. dissuade.
'inducer' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):