begin
begin /bɪˈgɪn/
verb
-
(
)
Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
(
get
, get down
, set about
, begin
, commence
, set out
, start
, start out
)
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
We began working at dawn
We began working at dawn
Who will start?
Who will start?
Get working as soon as the sun rises!
Get working as soon as the sun rises!
The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia
The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia
He began early in the day
He began early in the day
Let's get down to work now
Let's get down to work now
-
()
Have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense
(
start
, begin
)
have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense
The DMZ begins right over the hill
The DMZ begins right over the hill
The second movement begins after the Allegro
The second movement begins after the Allegro
Prices for these homes start at $250,000
Prices for these homes start at $250,000
-
()
Set in motion, cause to start
(
lead off
, commence
, begin
, start
)
set in motion, cause to start
The U.S. started a war in the Middle East
The U.S. started a war in the Middle East
The Iraqis began hostilities
The Iraqis began hostilities
Begin a new chapter in your life
begin a new chapter in your life
-
()
Begin to speak or say
(
begin
)
begin to speak or say
Now listen, friends', he began
Now listen, friends', he began
-
Begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language
(
begin
)
begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language
She began Russian at an early age
She began Russian at an early age
We started French in fourth grade
We started French in fourth grade
-
Achieve or accomplish in the least degree, usually used in the negative
(
begin
)
achieve or accomplish in the least degree, usually used in the negative
This economic measure doesn't even begin to deal with the problem of inflation
This economic measure doesn't even begin to deal with the problem of inflation
You cannot even begin to understand the problem we had to deal with during the war
You cannot even begin to understand the problem we had to deal with during the war
-
Begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object
(
begin
, start
)
begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object
Begin a cigar
begin a cigar
She started the soup while it was still hot
She started the soup while it was still hot
We started physics in 10th grade
We started physics in 10th grade
-
Have a beginning characterized in some specified way
(
begin
, start
)
have a beginning characterized in some specified way
The novel begins with a murder
The novel begins with a murder
My property begins with the three maple trees
My property begins with the three maple trees
Her day begins with a workout
Her day begins with a workout
The semester begins with a convocation ceremony
The semester begins with a convocation ceremony
-
Have a beginning, of a temporal event
(
begin
)
have a beginning, of a temporal event
WW II began in 1939 when Hitler marched into Poland
WW II began in 1939 when Hitler marched into Poland
The company's Asia tour begins next month
The company's Asia tour begins next month
-
Be the first item or point, constitute the beginning or start, come first in a series
(
begin
)
be the first item or point, constitute the beginning or start, come first in a series
The number one' begins the sequence
The number one' begins the sequence
A terrible murder begins the novel
A terrible murder begins the novel
The convocation ceremony officially begins the semester
The convocation ceremony officially begins the semester
noun
-
Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
(
Begin
, Menachem Begin
)
Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
