take the first step or steps in carrying out an action; We began working at dawn; Who will start?; Get working as soon as the sun rises!; The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia; He began early in the day; Lets get down to work now

[ Syn: get down , begin , get , start out , start , set about , set out ]

set in motion, cause to start; The U.S. started a war in the Middle East; The Iraqis began hostilities; begin a new chapter in your life

[ Syn: begin , lead off , start ]

get off the ground; Who started this company?; We embarked on an exciting enterprise; I start my day with a good breakfast; We began the new semester; The afternoon session begins at 4 PM; The blood shed started when the partisans launched a surprise attack

[ Syn: start , start up , embark on ]