begun
(bɪˈɡʌn) vb the past participle of
begin Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
be•gin
(bɪˈgɪn)
v. be•gan, be•gun, be•gin•ning. v.i. 1. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of an action; start.
2. to come into existence; arise; originate: The custom began during the war.
3. to have a first part: The name begins with a C.
v.t. 4. to proceed to perform the first or earliest part of: Begin the job tomorrow.
5. to originate; be the originator of: those who began the reform movement.
6. to succeed to the slightest extent in (fol. by an infinitive): The money won't begin to cover expenses.
[before 1000; Middle English beginnen, Old English beginnan]
syn: begin,
commence,
initiate,
start (when followed by noun or gerund) refer to setting into motion or progress something that continues for some time.
begin is the common term:
to begin knitting a sweater. commence is a more formal word, often suggesting a more prolonged or elaborate beginning:
to commence proceedings in court. initiate implies an active and often ingenious first act in a new field:
to initiate a new procedure. start means to make a first move or to set out on a course of action:
to start paving a street. Be•gin
(ˈbeɪ gɪn)
n. Menachem, 1913–92, Israeli political leader, born in Poland: prime minister 1977–83; Nobel peace prize 1978.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.