initialize

• initialise (non-Oxford British English)

From initial +‎ -ize.

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈnɪʃəlaɪz/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

initialize (third-person singular simple present initializes, present participle initializing, simple past and past participle initialized) (American spelling, Oxford British English)

1. To assign initial values to something.
2. (computing) To assign an initial value to a variable.
3. (computing) To format a storage medium prior to use.
4. (computing) To prepare any hardware (such as a printer or scanner) for use.
5. (somewhat dated) To reduce (a phrase) to an initialism, or a word to its initial.