Noun

• S: (n) novice, beginner, tyro, tiro, initiate (someone new to a field or activity)
• S: (n) initiate, learned person, pundit, savant (someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field)
• S: (n) initiate, enlightened (people who have been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity) "it is very familiar to the initiate"

Verb

• S: (v) originate, initiate, start (bring into being) "He initiated a new program"; "Start a foundation"
• S: (v) initiate, pioneer (take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of) "This South African surgeon pioneered heart transplants"
• S: (v) initiate, induct (accept people into an exclusive society or group, usually with some rite) "African men are initiated when they reach puberty"
• S: (v) broach, initiate (bring up a topic for discussion)
• S: (v) lead up, initiate (set in motion, start an event or prepare the way for) "Hitler's attack on Poland led up to World War II"