beginning

Multiple Entries:
  beginning    begin  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
beginning/bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

▶noun the time or place at which something begins.

■ the first or earliest part.

■ (beginnings) a person's background or origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
begin/bɪˈɡɪn/

▶verb (begins, beginning; past began; past part. begun)

• 1 perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity).

  ■ (begin on/upon) set to work on.

  ■ start speaking.

  ■ (begin with) have as a first element.

  ■ (begin at) (of a commodity) have as its lowest price.

• 2 come into being.

• 3 informal have any chance or likelihood of doing: I can't begin to describe my confusion.

– derivatives
beginner noun.

– origin OE beginnan, of Gmc origin.