Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - introduction

~ n 1 »START TO USE« the act of making something start to be used or exist for the first time + of  (the introduction of new working methods | Since their introduction, compact discs have taken over from records.) 2 »BRING STH TO A PLACE« a) the act of bringing something to a place for the first time from somewhere else + of  (the introduction of Buddhism to China nearly 2000 years ago) b) something that is brought into a place for the first time from somewhere else  (The potato was a sixteenth century introduction.) 3 »WHEN MEETING SB« (countable often plural the act of formally telling two people each other's names when they first meet  (There isn't time for formal introductions.) 4 »BOOK/SPEECH« a written or spoken explanation at the beginning of a book or speech  (In the introduction there's a brief account of Lawrence's life.) 5 »EXPLANATION« something that provides a way of learning about something for the first time  (This little book is a very good introduction to geometry.) 6 »LETTER« an official letter that explains who you are, given to someone you have not met before 7 »PUT STH INTO STH« technical the act of putting something into something else + of  (the introduction of air into the heating system)