BEGIN - Definition & Meaning for Kids

Meaning 1

Part of speech: 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)

Meaning 2

Part of speech: Verb

have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense

Example: The DMZ begins right over the hill; The second movement begins after the Allegro; Prices for these homes start at $250,000

Meaning 3

Part of speech: Verb

set in motion, cause to start

Example: The U.S. started a war in the Middle East; The Iraqis began hostilities; begin a new chapter in your life

Meaning 4

Part of speech: Verb

begin to speak or say

Example: Now listen, friends," he began

Categories: Talk, Speak, Utter, Mouth, Verbalize, Verbalise

Meaning 5

Part of speech: Verb

be the first item or point, constitute the beginning or start, come first in a series

Example: The number `one' begins the sequence; A terrible harm begins the novel; The convocation ceremony officially begins the semester

Meaning 6

Part of speech: Verb

have a beginning, of a temporal event

Example: WW II began in 1939 when Hitler marched into Poland; The company's Asia tour begins next month

Categories: Be

Meaning 7

Part of speech: Verb

have a beginning characterized in some specified way

Example: The novel begins with a harm; My property begins with the three maple trees; Her day begins with a workout; The semester begins with a convocation ceremony

Categories: Be

Meaning 8

Part of speech: Verb

begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object

Example: begin a cigar; She started the soup while it was still hot; We started physics in 10th grade

Categories: Act, Move

Meaning 9

Part of speech: Verb

achieve or accomplish in the least degree, usually used in the negative

Example: 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

Categories: Achieve, Accomplish, Attain, Reach

Meaning 10

Part of speech: Verb

begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language

Example: She began Russian at an early age; We started French in fourth grade