[be.gin] vb be.gan ; be.gun ; be.gin.ning [ME beginnen, fr. OE beginnan; akin to OHG biginnan to begin, OE onginnan] vi (bef. 12c) 1: to do the first part of an action: go into the first part of a process: start
2. a: to come into existence: arise b: to have a starting point
3: to do or succeed in the least degree "I can't ~ to tell you how pleased I am" ~ vt 1: to set about the activity of: start
2. a: to bring into being: found b: originate, invent -- to begin with : as the first thing to be considered syn begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable. begin, opposed to end, is the most general "begin a trip" "began dancing". start, opposed to stop, applies esp. to first actions, steps, or stages "the work started slowly". commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start "commence firing" "commenced a conversation". initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue "initiated diplomatic contacts". inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance "the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine". usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate "ushered in a period of economic decline".