n. & v.
--n.
1. the first light of day; daybreak.
2 the beginning or incipient appearance of something.
--v.intr.
1. (of a day) begin; grow light.
2 (often foll. by on, upon) begin to become evident or understood (by a person).
Phrases and idioms:
dawn chorus the singing of many birds at the break of day.
Etymology: orig. as verb: back-form. f. dawning, ME f. earlier dawing after Scand. (as DAY)