initiation (redirected from Initiation ceremony)

initiation, the transition and attendant ceremonies, such as ordeals and rites, involved in passing from one state or status to another, often from childhood to adulthood. It was among the most important social institutions of early humans. The ordeal measures the initiate's worthiness to enter the new status. Initiation may mean the cessation of contact with those who have not been initiated. Seclusion, mutilation, symbolic representation of death and resurrection, the display of sacred objects, special instruction, and restrictions on the initiate are frequent attributes of the ceremonies. Many early societies had puberty initiations. Their purpose was to induct the young person both into the full status of an adult and into the religion of the group.

---

initiation [i‚nish·ē′ā·shən]

(ordnance)

As applied to an explosive item, the beginning of the deflagration or detonation of the explosive.

The first action in a fuse which occurs as a direct result of the action of the functioning medium.

In a time fuse, the starting of the action which is terminated in the functioning of the fused munition.