be·gin·ning 
(bĭ-gĭnĭng)
(bĭ-gĭnĭng)n.
1. The act or process of bringing or being brought into being; a start: the beginning of the universe.
2.
a. The time when something begins or is begun: the beginning of June.
b. The place where something begins or is begun: at the beginning of the road.
3.
a. The first part: The front matter is at the beginning of the book.
b. often beginnings An early stage or phase: the beginnings of human life on this planet.
c. The source or cause: What was the beginning of the dispute?
Synonyms: beginning, birth, dawn, genesis, nascence, rise
These nouns denote the initial stage of a developmental process: the beginning of a new era in technology; the birth of the industrial economy; the dawn of civilization; the genesis of quantum mechanics; the nascence of classical sculpture; the rise and decline of an ancient city-state.
These nouns denote the initial stage of a developmental process: the beginning of a new era in technology; the birth of the industrial economy; the dawn of civilization; the genesis of quantum mechanics; the nascence of classical sculpture; the rise and decline of an ancient city-state.
Antonym: end