start vs initiate

start and initiate both are nouns.

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

As verbs, start and initiate are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of start include originate.

As verbs, initiate is a hyponym of start; that is, initiate is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than start:

Other hyponyms of start include lead up, set, date back, date from, go back.

start (noun)	initiate (noun)
the act of starting something	people who have been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity
a sudden involuntary movement	someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
a turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning)	someone new to a field or activity
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

start (verb)	initiate (verb)
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action	set in motion, start an event or prepare the way for
set in motion, cause to start	bring up a topic for discussion
play in the starting lineup	take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of
bring into being	bring into being
get off the ground	accept people into an exclusive society or group, usually with some rite
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