n.
Variant: also dé · but
Pronunciation: ' d ā - ˌ byü, d ā - '
Function: noun
Etymology: French début, from débuter to begin, from Middle French desbuter to play first, from des- de- + but starting point, goal ― more at BUTT
Date: 1751
1 : a first appearance <made her singing debut >
2 : a formal entrance into society