- beginning
- /bI'gInIN/ noun (countable usually singular)
1 the start or first part of an event, story, period of time etc(+ of): It will be ready at the beginning of next week. | The beginning of the film is very violent. | in/at/from the beginning (=at or from the time when a situation, process etc begins): We pay our rent at the beginning of every month. | I said he would be trouble, right from the beginning. | from beginning to end: The whole trip was a disaster from beginning to end. -see firstly2 beginnings (plural) the early part or early signs of something that later develops and becomes bigger, more important etc: the beginnings of the capitalist system | from small/humble beginnings: From humble beginnings in Atlanta, it had developed into a multinational corporation.3 the beginning of the end the time when something good starts to end or become less goodUSAGE NOTE: BEGINNING WORD CHOICE: at the beginning of, in the beginning Something that happens at the very start of an event or period of time happens at the beginning of it: At the beginning of the Civil War Fort Sumter was attacked (NOT in the beginning of it). | There's a car chase at the beginning (=at the start of the film). If something happens in the beginning (not usually with of) it happens during a period of time near the start of an event or longer period of time: In the beginning the South had some success (=during the early part of the Civil War).| I was too shy to speak to her in the beginning (=the first few times I saw her). SPELLING Remember there are two 'n's in beginning.
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.