INTRODUCTION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does introduction mean? 

• INTRODUCTION (noun)
  The noun INTRODUCTION has 7 senses:

1. the act of beginning something new

2. the first section of a communication

3. formally making a person known to another or to the public

4. a basic or elementary instructional text

5. a new proposal

6. the act of putting one thing into another

7. the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new

  Familiarity information: INTRODUCTION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INTRODUCTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of beginning something new

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

debut; entry; first appearance; introduction; launching; unveiling

Context example:

they looked forward to the debut of their new product line

Hypernyms ("introduction" is a kind of...):

beginning; commencement; start (the act of starting something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "introduction"):

product introduction (the introduction (usually by an advertising campaign) of a new product or product line)

ushering in (the introduction of something new)

naturalisation; naturalization (the introduction of animals or plants to places where they flourish but are not indigenous)

induction (the act of bringing about something (especially at an early time))

Sense 2

Meaning:

The first section of a communication

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("introduction" is a kind of...):

section; subdivision (a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "introduction"):

exordium ((rhetoric) the introductory section of an oration or discourse)

opening (the initial part of the introduction)

foreword; preface; prolusion (a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book)

preamble (a preliminary introduction to a statute or constitution (usually explaining its purpose))

prolegomenon (a preliminary discussion inserted at the beginning of a book or treatise)

prologue (an introduction to a play)

Holonyms ("introduction" is a part of...):

narration; recital; yarn (the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events)

address; speech (the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Formally making a person known to another or to the public

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

intro; introduction; presentation

Hypernyms ("introduction" is a kind of...):

informing; making known (a speech act that conveys information)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "introduction"):

debut (the presentation of a debutante in society)

reintroduction (an act of renewed introduction)

Derivation:

introduce (cause to come to know personally)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A basic or elementary instructional text

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("introduction" is a kind of...):

school text; schoolbook; text; text edition; textbook (a book prepared for use in schools or colleges)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A new proposal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

they resisted the introduction of impractical alternatives

Hypernyms ("introduction" is a kind of...):

proposal (something proposed (such as a plan or assumption))

Sense 6

Meaning:

The act of putting one thing into another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

insertion; introduction; intromission

Hypernyms ("introduction" is a kind of...):

movement (the act of changing the location of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "introduction"):

perfusion (pumping a liquid into an organ or tissue (especially by way of blood vessels))

blood transfusion; transfusion (the introduction of blood or blood plasma into a vein or artery)

injection (the forceful insertion of a substance under pressure)

enclosing; enclosure; envelopment; inclosure (the act of enclosing something inside something else)

instillation; instillment; instilment (the introduction of a liquid (by pouring or injection) drop by drop)

cannulation; cannulisation; cannulization; canulation; canulisation; canulization; intubation (the insertion of a cannula or tube into a hollow body organ)

Derivation:

introduce (place, fit, or thrust (something) into another thing)

introduce (put or introduce into something)

Sense 7

Meaning:

The act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

creation; foundation; founding; initiation; innovation; instauration; institution; introduction; origination

Context example:

the foundation of a new scientific society

Hypernyms ("introduction" is a kind of...):

beginning; commencement; start (the act of starting something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "introduction"):

authorship; paternity (the act of initiating a new idea or theory or writing)

 Context examples 

Sir Thomas soon appeared, and Maria saw with delight and agitation the introduction of the man she loved to her father.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Also, while other gases such as the introduction of chloroflorocarbons or other fluorine-based compounds have been proposed to raise the atmospheric temperature, these gases are short-lived and would require large-scale manufacturing processes.

(Mars Terraforming Not Possible Using Present-Day Technology, NASA)

However, methicillin-resistant strains were reported soon after the drug’s introduction.

(Antibiotic Combinations May Combat MRSA Infections, NIH)

Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Her introductions and recommendations must all wait, and every projected party be still only talked of.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The introduction or transplantation of immune-sensitive moieties to a host are being evaluated in several clinical trials as a primary therapy for patients with malignancies.

(Graft-Versus-Tumor Induction, NCI Thesaurus)

Introduction of naked DNA into cells by various methods.

(DNA-Mediated Gene Transfer, NCI Thesaurus)

Since the discovery of penicillin, the introduction of antibiotics to treat infections has revolutionised medicine and healthcare, saving millions of lives.

(Widely-available antibiotics could be used in the treatment of ‘superbug’ MRSA, University of Cambridge)

Almost all the tumours found today in North, Central and South America descend from this single introduction event.

(The curious tale of the cancer ‘parasite’ that sailed the seas, University of Cambridge)

Ask friends to make introductions, attend parties and mixers, and generally be out and about.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)