Definition of: inaugurate

(in·ô′gyə·rāt) v.t. ·rat·ed, ·rat·ing
1. To induct into office with formal ceremony; invest.
2. To begin or commence upon formally; initiate: to inaugurate a reform.
3. To celebrate the public opening or first use of: to inaugurate a bridge. See synonyms under INSTALL. [<L inauguratus, pp. of inaugurare take omens, consecrate, install. See AUGUR.]
—in·au′gu·ral (-rəl) adjective
—in·au′gu·ra′tor noun
—in·au′gu·ra·to′ry (-tôr′ē, -tō′rē) adjective