- beginning
- be|gin|ningW2S1 [bıˈgınıŋ] n [C usually singular]1.) the start or first part of an event, story, period of time etcbeginning of▪ She's been here since the beginning of the year.▪ There's a short poem at the beginning of every chapter.▪ From the beginning of my career as a journalist, I've been writing about gender issues.▪ I thought he loved me; perhaps he did in the beginning .▪ That chance meeting marked the beginning of a long and happy relationship.▪ This is just the beginning of a new and different life for you.▪ I said he would cause trouble, right from the beginning .▪ I opposed it from the very beginning .▪ The whole trip was a disaster from beginning to end .▪ I feel like I've been offered a new beginning .▪ Could we start at the beginning ? Tell me where you first met him.2.) beginnings [plural]the early signs or stages of something that later develops into something bigger or more importantbeginnings of▪ I think I have the beginnings of a cold.from humble/small beginnings▪ He rose from humble beginnings to great wealth.3.) the beginning of the endthe time when something good starts to end▬▬▬▬▬▬▬COLLOCATES for sense 1since the beginning (of something)at the beginning (of something)from the beginningin the beginningmark the beginning of somethingherald/signal the beginning of something (=show that something is starting)be just/only the beginning (=used to emphasize that something will continue or develop)right at the beginningright from the beginningthe very beginningfrom beginning to enda new beginningstart at the beginning (=start an activity or story at the point where it is meant to start)▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.