1. Open ceremoniously or dedicate formally
   "The mayor inaugurated the new community centre"
    
2. Commence officially
   "The mayor inaugurated the new civic centre";
   - kick off [informal]
    
3. Be a precursor of
   "The fall of the Berlin Wall inaugurated the post-Cold War period";
   - usher in, introduce

Derived forms: inaugurating, inaugurated, inaugurates

Type of: begin, commence, embark on, lead off, open, start, start up

Encyclopedia: Inaugurate