beginning
/bɪˈgɪnɪŋ/noun
usu. in sing.
1- the point in time or space at which something begins开端, 开始, 起点：
he left at the beginning of February
他是2月初离开的
they had reached the beginning of the wood.
他们已经到了树林边。
1.1
- the process of coming or bringing something into being开始存在, 出现, 创始：
the ending of one relationship and the beginning of another.
一种关系的结束和另一种关系的开始。
1.2
- the first part or earliest stage of something开头, 最先的部分, 最早阶段：
on the paper was the beginning of a letter
纸上写着信的开头几句话
she had the beginnings of a headache.
她开始觉得头痛。
1.3
- （一般作beginnings）the background or origins of a person or organization出身, 背景：
he had risen from humble beginnings to great wealth.
他出身低微, 但后来飞黄腾达, 成为巨富。
短语
the beginning of the end
- the point or event to which ending or failure can be traced预示最后结果（或败局）的先兆。