begin
1 to start doing sth; to do the first part of sth:
[VN] We began work on the project in May. I began (     started reading) this novel last month and I still haven't finished it. He always begins his lessons with a warm-up exercise. She began by thanking us all for coming. He began his political career as a student (     when he was a student). [V] Shall I begin? Let's begin at page 9. [V to inf] I began to feel dizzy. At last the guests began to arrive. She began to cry. It was beginning to snow. I was beginning to think you'd never come. [V ing] Everyone began talking at once. When will you begin recruiting?
2 [V] to start to happen or exist, especially from a particular time:
When does the concert begin? Work on the new bridge is due to begin in September. The evening began well.
3 ~ as sth [V] to be sth first, before becoming sth else:
He began as an actor, before starting to direct films. What began as a minor scuffle turned into a full-scale riot.
4 [V] to have sth as the first part or the point where sth starts:
Use 'an' before words beginning with a vowel. 'I'm thinking of a country in Asia.' 'What does it begin with (     what is the first letter)?' Each chapter begins with a quotation. Where does Europe end and Asia begin? The path begins at Livingston village.
5 [V speech] to start speaking:
'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, 'welcome to the Town Hall.'
6 to start or make sth start for the first time:
[V] The school began in 1920, with only ten pupils. [VN] He began a new magazine on post-war architecture.
7 [V to inf] not ~ to make no attempt to do sth or have no chance of doing sth:
I can't begin to thank you enough. He didn't even begin to understand my problem.
IDIOMS
to begin with
1 at first:
I found it tiring to begin with but I soon got used to it. We'll go slowly to begin with.
2 used to introduce the first point you want to make:
'What was it you didn't like?' 'Well, to begin with, our room was far too small.'
more at CHARITY
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WHICH WORD?
begin / start
There is not much difference in meaning between begin and start, though start is more common in spoken English: What time does the concert start/begin? She started/began working here three months ago. Begin is often used when you are describing a series of events: The story begins on the island of Corfu. Start, but not begin, can also mean 'to start a journey', 'to start something happening' or 'to start a machine working': We'll need to start at 7.00. Who do you think started the fire? The car won't start.
You can use either an infinitive or a form with ing after begin and start, with no difference in meaning: I didn't start worrying/to worry until she was 2 hours late.
After the forms beginning and starting, the ing form of the verb is not normally used: It's starting/beginning to rain. _I_t_'_s_ _s_t_a_r_t_i_n_g_/_b_e_g_i_n_n_i_n_g_ _r_a_i_n_i_n_g. see also COMMENCE
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