initiate vs start

initiate and start both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
initiate	Yes	No	Yes	No
start	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, start is a hypernym of initiate; that is, start is a word with a broader meaning than initiate:

Other hypernyms of initiate include initiate, originate.

As verbs, initiate and start are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of initiate include originate.

initiate (noun)	start (noun)
people who have been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity	the act of starting something
someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field	a sudden involuntary movement
someone new to a field or activity	a turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning)
	the advantage gained by beginning early (as in a race)
	a signal to begin (as in a race)
	the beginning of anything
	a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game
	the time at which something is supposed to begin

initiate (verb)	start (verb)
set in motion, start an event or prepare the way for	take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
bring up a topic for discussion	set in motion, cause to start
take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of	play in the starting lineup
bring into being	bring into being
accept people into an exclusive society or group, usually with some rite	get off the ground
	begin or set in motion
	get going or set in motion
	depart for someplace
	bulge outward
	move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm
	begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job
	begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object
	have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense
	have a beginning characterized in some specified way