Source : WordNet®

initialise
     v 1: assign an initial value to a computer program [syn: {initialize}]
     2: divide (a disk) into marked sectors so that it may store
        data; "Please format this disk before entering data!"
        [syn: {format}, {initialize}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

initialise
     
         To give a {variable} its first value.  This may
        be done automatically by some languages or it may require
        explicit code by the programmer.  Some languages allow
        initialisation to be combined with variable definition,
        e.g. in {C}:
     
        	int i = 0;
     
        Failing to initialise a variable before using it is a common
        programming error, but one which compilers and automatic
        checkers like {lint} can easily detect.
     
        (1997-06-08)