Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - beginning

~ n C 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 firstly) 2 beginnings 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 good  ( USAGE 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. )