Initiative - English meaning

verb

Take action; do something.

Usage examples:

They urged washington to act

noun

A thing done; a deed.

Usage examples:

A criminal act

abbreviation

Advance corporation tax.

noun

The fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim.

Usage examples:

Ending child labour will require action on many levels

verb

Take action on; deal with.

Usage examples:

Your request will be actioned

noun

The process of doing something, or something done, esp. for a particular purpose

Usage examples:

[ u ] quick action in calling the fire department saved many lives., [ c ] it was a reckless action…

noun

A condition or circumstance that puts one in a favourable or superior position.

Usage examples:

Companies with a computerized database are at an advantage

verb

Put in a favourable or superior position.

Usage examples:

Are we simply caught in a spiral here that will be destructive of our interests while, obviously, s…

noun

A condition that helps you or gives you a greater chance of success

Usage examples:

[ c ] his long arms give him a big advantage over other boxers., [ u ] test scores show no advantag…

noun

A strong desire to do or achieve something.

Usage examples:

Her ambition was to become a pilot

noun

A strong wish to achieve something

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] his ambition is ultimately to run his own business., he has already achieved hi…

noun

A strong wish to be successful, powerful, rich, etc.

Usage examples:

She has a lot of ambition.

verb

Come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance or time.

Usage examples:

The train approached the main line

noun

A way of dealing with a situation or problem.

Usage examples:

We need a whole new approach to the job

verb

Move towards

noun

The point in time or space at which something begins.

Usage examples:

He left at the beginning of february

verb

Perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity).

Usage examples:

Peter had just begun a life sentence for murder

noun

The first part of something or the start of something

Usage examples:

Notes on how to use this dictionary can be found at the beginning of the book., she sat down and re…

noun

The power or ability to do something.

Usage examples:

He had an intuitive capability of bringing the best out in people

noun

The ability to do something

Usage examples:

Capability to with the new machines we finally have the capability (= power) to do the job properly…

noun

The number of weapons, soldiers, etc. a country has to fight a war

Usage examples:

Nuclear capability several countries are trying to develop a nuclear capability.

noun

The beginning of something.

Usage examples:

The commencement of the trial

noun

Fml the beginning of something

Usage examples:

The senate's commencement of closed-door deliberations

noun

The beginning of something

Usage examples:

Would passengers please turn off their mobile phones before the commencement of the flight.

noun

The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness.

Usage examples:

Firms are keen to encourage creativity

noun

The ability to produce original and unusual ideas, or to make something new or imaginative

noun

The ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas

Usage examples:

Too many rules might deaden creativity., creativity, ingenuity, and flair are the songwriter's real…

verb

Run or travel somewhere in a great hurry.

Usage examples:

I dashed into the garden

exclamation

Used to express mild annoyance.

Usage examples:

Dash it all, i am in charge

noun

An act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily.

Usage examples:

She made a dash for the door

noun

A political step or initiative.

Usage examples:

Foreign policy démarches

noun

A course of action, especially a political one

Usage examples:

Whether such a diplomatic démarche would reduce the killing in the area is pure guesswork.

verb

Operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle.

Usage examples:

He got into his car and drove off

noun

(of a fact or feeling) compel (someone) to act in a particular way, especially one that is considered undesirable or inappropriate.

Usage examples:

He was driven by ambition

verb

To travel in a motor vehicle, esp. as the person who operates it

Usage examples:

[ t ] we drove 40 miles to visit my aunt., [ i ] she drove through pennsylvania to ohio., [ i ] she…

noun

The quality of being characterized by vigorous activity and progress.

Usage examples:

The dynamism and strength of the economy

noun

The quality of being dynamic

Usage examples:

She has a freshness and dynamism about her.

noun

The outside limit of an object, area, or surface.

Usage examples:

A willow tree at the water's edge

verb

Provide with a border or edge.

Usage examples:

The pool is edged with paving

verb

A line determining the limits of an area

noun

The strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity.

Usage examples:

Changes in the levels of vitamins can affect energy and well-being

noun

The power and ability to be physically and mentally active

Usage examples:

[ u ] they spent a lot of time and energy on the grant proposal., [ u ] he wrote with a great burst…

noun

The power from something such as electricity or oil, which can do work, such as providing light and heat

Usage examples:

Use/consume/waste energy 80% of the energy used to wash garments is needed to heat the water., save…

noun

A project or undertaking, especially a bold or complex one.

Usage examples:

A joint enterprise between french and japanese companies

noun

An organization, esp. a business, or a difficult and important plan, esp. one that will earn money

Usage examples:

[ u ] private enterprise, [ c ] the road is bordered by shopping centers, restaurants, retail outle…

noun

An organization, a company, or a business

Usage examples:

A manufacturing/catering/farming enterprise, a large/small/medium-sized enterprise, a state/state-o…

noun

An act or remark that is calculated to gain an advantage, especially at the outset of a situation.

Usage examples:

His resignation was a tactical gambit

noun

Something that you do or say that is intended to achieve an advantage and usually involves taking a risk

Usage examples:

The arrest of the political leader was seen as the opening gambit in a move to take control of the …

noun

A clever action in a game or other situation that is intended to achieve an advantage and usually involves taking a risk

Usage examples:

Opening gambit her clever opening gambit gave her an early advantage., their promise to lower taxes…

noun

The faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.

Usage examples:

She'd never been blessed with a vivid imagination

noun

The ability to form mental pictures of people or things, or to have new ideas

Usage examples:

Rafael has a very active imagination (= has many ideas).

noun

The ability to form pictures in the mind

Usage examples:

Vivid imagination my younger son has a very vivid (= active) imagination., i can never make up stor…

noun

The quality of being clever, original, and inventive.

Usage examples:

Considerable ingenuity must be employed in writing software

noun

The skill of thinking, performing, or using things in new ways, esp. to solve problems

Usage examples:

With a little ingenuity, meals can be tasty as well as inexpensive.

noun

Someone's ability to think of clever new ways of doing something

Usage examples:

I was impressed by the ingenuity and energy of the contestants., it took some time and a little ing…

noun

The quality of being inventive; creativity.

Usage examples:

The inventiveness of the staging

noun

The quality of showing or having new and original ideas

Usage examples:

Her performance was full of wit and inventiveness., in his best stories his sheer inventiveness is …

verb

Cause (a person or animal) to go with one by holding them by the hand, a halter, a rope, etc. while moving forward.

Usage examples:

She emerged leading a bay horse

noun

The initiative in an action; an example for others to follow.

Usage examples:

Britain is now taking the lead in environmental policies

noun

A soft, heavy, ductile bluish-grey metal, the chemical element of atomic number 82. it has been used in roofing, plumbing, ammunition, storage batteries, radiation shields, etc., and its compounds have been used in crystal glass, as an anti-knock agent in petrol, and (formerly) in paints.

Usage examples:

There's evidence that heavy metals such as lead and cadmium can make osteoporosis worse.

noun

A movement or series of moves requiring skill and care.

Usage examples:

Snowboarders performed daring manoeuvres on precipitous slopes

verb

Move skilfully or carefully.

Usage examples:

The lorry was unable to manoeuvre comfortably in the narrow street

noun

A planned action that is intended to get an advantage

Usage examples:

This manoeuvre has the effect of rewarding those shareholders who sell at the expense of those who …

verb

Ascertain the size, amount, or degree of (something) by using an instrument or device marked in standard units.

Usage examples:

The amount of water collected is measured in pints

noun

A plan or course of action taken to achieve a particular purpose.

Usage examples:

Cost-cutting measures

verb

Determine the dimensions of something or somebody

noun

A reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Usage examples:

Escape can be a strong motivation for travel

noun

Willingness to do something, or something that causes such willingness

Usage examples:

[ c ] one motivation for reducing the staff was the need to cut costs., [ u ] you need a lot of mot…

noun

Enthusiasm for doing something

Usage examples:

Many staff lack motivation and are resistant to change., a motivation for sth a major motivation fo…

noun

The ability to think independently and creatively.

Usage examples:

She's a writer of great originality

noun

The quality of being special and interesting and not the same as anything or anyone else

Usage examples:

We were impressed by the originality of the children's work.

noun

A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.

Usage examples:

The un peace plan

verb

Decide on and make arrangements for in advance.

Usage examples:

They were planning a trip to egypt

verb

A series of steps to be carried out or goals to be achieved

noun

A plan or suggestion, especially a formal or written one, put forward for consideration by others.

Usage examples:

A set of proposals for a major new high-speed rail link

noun

The ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.

Usage examples:

His films show remarkable technical resourcefulness

noun

The ability to make decisions and act on your own

Usage examples:

This film reveals their resourcefulness in overcoming appalling weather and treacherous terrain.

noun

A large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting a particular idea into effect.

Usage examples:

The occupational sick pay scheme

verb

Make plans, especially in a devious way or with intent to do something illegal or wrong.

Usage examples:

Envious of their wealth, he schemed to bring about their downfall

noun

A plan for doing or organizing something

Usage examples:

The committee came up with a creative fundraising scheme., the yellow and white color scheme bright…

noun

The non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul.

Usage examples:

We seek a harmony between body and spirit

verb

Convey rapidly and secretly.

Usage examples:

Stolen cows were spirited away some distance to prevent detection

noun

A state of mind or attitude

Usage examples:

It’s very important to play the game in the right spirit., rock music in the 1960s expressed the sp…

verb

Begin or be reckoned from a particular point in time or space.

Usage examples:

The season starts in september

noun

The point in time or space at which something has its origin; the beginning.

Usage examples:

He takes over as chief executive at the start of next year

abbreviation

Strategic arms reduction treaty, an agreement between the us and the soviet union to limit and reduce strategic nuclear weapons, first signed in 1991.

noun

An act or movement of putting one leg in front of the other in walking or running.

Usage examples:

Ron took a step back

verb

Lift and set down one's foot or one foot after the other in order to walk somewhere or move to a new position.

Usage examples:

Claudia tried to step back

combining form

Denoting a relationship resulting from a remarriage.

Usage examples:

Stepmother

noun

A plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end.

Usage examples:

A series of devious stratagems

noun

A plan or trick to achieve something

Usage examples:

Barry devised several stratagems for escape.

noun

A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.

Usage examples:

Time to develop a coherent economic strategy

noun

A long-range plan for achieving something or reaching a goal, or the skill of making such plans

Usage examples:

[ u ] chess is a game that requires strategy., the hill was of strategic importance for control of …

noun

The way in which a business, government, or other organization carefully plans its actions over a period of time to improve its position and achieve what it wants

Usage examples:

Business environments and strategies are constantly changing in response to economic and financial …

noun

A small, sharp broad-headed nail.

Usage examples:

Tacks held the remaining rags of carpet to the floor

verb

Fasten or fix in place with tacks.

Usage examples:

He used the tool to tack down sheets of fibreboard

noun

Equipment used in horse riding, including the saddle and bridle.

Usage examples:

New materials will also be used for tack and horse equipment.

noun

An action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end.

Usage examples:

The minority attempted to control the council by a delaying tactic

noun

A specific action intended to get a particular result

Usage examples:

Oliver’s clumsy tactics doomed the plan from the start.

noun

A planned method for achieving a particular result

Usage examples:

I think we'll have to change our marketing tactics., the tactics used by the salesman made her unco…

noun

A way of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution or performance of an artistic work or a scientific procedure.

Usage examples:

New surgical techniques mean a shorter hospital stay

noun

A way of performing a skillful activity, or the skill needed to do it

Usage examples:

[ c ] new surgical techniques are constantly being developed., [ u ] the violinist’s technique was …

noun

A way of doing something that needs skill or thought

Usage examples:

Technique for (doing) sth you need to develop techniques for dealing with staff who have performanc…

noun

Vigour and spirit or enthusiasm.

Usage examples:

Kollo sings with supreme verve and flexibility

noun

A lot of energy and enthusiasm

Usage examples:

She expressed herself with verve and wit.

noun

A curriculum vitae.

Usage examples:

Whether it's for typing up memos, spreadsheets, presentations, standard operating procedures, thesi…