beginning

views updated May 14 2018

be·gin·ning / biˈgining/ • n. [usu. in sing.] the point in time or space at which something starts: he left at the beginning of February they had reached the beginning of the forest. ∎  the process of coming, or being brought into being: the beginning of active cooperation. ∎  the first part or earliest stage of something: the beginning of a letter. ∎  (usu. beginnings) the background or origins of anything: the series explores the beginnings of flight.• adj. new or inexperienced: a beginning gardener. ∎  introductory or elementary: the beginning guitar class.PHRASES: the beginning of the end the event to which ending or failure can be traced.