initialization

I1N1I1T1I1A1L1I1Z10A1T1I1O1N1

noun

The process of preparing something to begin.

Similar
low-level formattinginitialisation
Less commonScrabble 23
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Meanings

nouninitialization (countable and uncountable, plural initializations)

plural initializations · alternative initialisation

  1. BritishEnglishOxfordUSuncountableThe process of preparing something to begin.
  2. BritishEnglishOxfordUScountableAn act of preparing something to begin.
  3. BritishEnglishOxfordUScountableuncountablecomputingAn assignment of an initial value for a data object or variable

Synonyms & antonyms

noun(computer science) the format of sectors on the surface of a hard disk drive so that the operating system can access them and setting a starting position

Similar
low-level formattinginitialisation
Broader
formatformattingdata format

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From initialize + -ation.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 初始化
  • 初始化 (chūshǐhuà)programming: assignment of initial value of variable
Czech inicializace
  • inicializaceprogramming: assignment of initial value of variable
Finnish alkuvalmistelu, alustaminen
  • alkuvalmisteluprocess
  • alustaminenprocess
  • alkuvalmisteluact
  • alustaminenact
  • alkuarvon asettaminenprogramming: assignment of initial value of variable
  • alustaminenprogramming: assignment of initial value of variable
French initialisation
  • initialisationprogramming: assignment of initial value of variable
German Initialisierung
  • Initialisierungprogramming: assignment of initial value of variable
Greek αρχικοποίηση, έναρξη
  • αρχικοποίηση (archikopoíisi)programming: assignment of initial value of variable
  • έναρξη (énarxi)programming: assignment of initial value of variable
Icelandic frumstilling, frumgilding
  • frumstillingprogramming: assignment of initial value of variable
  • frumgildingprogramming: assignment of initial value of variable
Indonesian inisialisasi
  • inisialisasiprogramming: assignment of initial value of variable
Japanese 初期化
  • 初期化 (shokika)programming: assignment of initial value of variable
Korean 초기화
  • 초기화 (chogihwa)programming: assignment of initial value of variable
Portuguese inicialização, inicialização
  • inicializaçãoact
  • inicializaçãoprogramming: assignment of initial value of variable
Romanian inițializare
  • inițializareprocess
Russian инициализа́ция
  • инициализа́ция (inicializácija)programming: assignment of initial value of variable
Turkish ilklendirme
  • ilklendirmeprogramming: assignment of initial value of variable
Vietnamese khởi tạo
  • khởi tạoprogramming: assignment of initial value of variable
Cite this entry
APA

initialization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/initialization

MLA

“initialization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/initialization. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “initialization,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/initialization.

Source: initialization on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.