/bi gin"ing/ , n.
1. an act or circumstance of entering upon an action or state: the beginning of hostilities.
2. the point of time or space at which anything begins: the beginning of the Christian era; the beginning of the route.
3. the first part: the beginning of the book; the beginning of the month.
4. Often, beginnings . the initial stage or part of anything: the beginnings of science.
5. origin; source; first cause: A misunderstanding about the rent was the beginning of their quarrel.
adj.
6. just formed: a beginning company.
7. first; opening: the beginning chapters of a book.
8. basic or introductory: beginning Spanish.
9. learning the fundamentals: a beginning swimmer.
[ 1175-1225; ME beginnung, -ing. See BEGIN, -ING 1 ]
Syn. 1. initiation, inauguration, inception. 2. start, commencement, outset, onset, arising, emergence.
Ant. 1. ending. 2. end.