beginning

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative spellings 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Pronunciation 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Synonyms 1.4.2 Derived terms 1.4.3 Translations 1.5 Verb 1.6 Adjective 1.6.1 Synonyms

[edit] English

[edit] Alternative spellings

• begynnynge (obsolete)

[edit] Etymology

Verbal noun of begin.

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: bĭgĭn'ĭng, IPA: /bɪˈgɪn.ɪŋ/, SAMPA: /bI"gIn.IN/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

beginning (countable and uncountable; plural beginnings)

1. (uncountable) The act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states.
2. That which is begun; a rudiment or element.
3. That which begins or originates something; the first cause; origin; source.
4. The initial portion of some extended thing.

   The author describes the protagonist's youth in the beginning of the story

   The house you want is down at the beginning of the street

[edit] Synonyms

• (act of doing that which begins anything): commencing, start, starting
• (that which is begun; rudiment or element): element, embryo, rudiment
• (that which begins or originates something): origin, source, start
• (initial portion of some extended thing): head, start

[edit] Derived terms

• a good beginning makes a good ending
• beginning of day
• in the beginning

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

beginning

1. Present participle of begin.

   He is beginning to read a new book.

[edit] Adjective

beginning (not comparable)

1. (informal) Of or relating to the first portion of some extended thing

   in the beginning paragraph of the chapter

   in the beginning section of the course

[edit] Synonyms

• first
• initial