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The definition of begin means to start or come into being.

(verb)

An example of begin is when you start working at 8:00 A.M.
An example of begin is the invasion that started World War II in 1939.
An example of begin is when legislation is passed that starts to deal with a problem.

See begin in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb began, begun, beginning

to start doing, acting, going, etc.; get under way
to come into being; arise
to have a first part or element: the Bible begins with Genesis
to be or do in the slightest degree: used with an infinitive: they don't begin to compare

Origin: ME biginnen < OE beginnan; akin to Ger beginnen, Goth duginnan

transitive verb

to cause to start; set about; commence
to cause to come into being; originate
to be the first part or element of

Begin, Menachem 1913-92; prime minister of Israel (1977-83), born in Poland

See begin in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb be·gan (-gănˈ), be·gun (-gŭnˈ), be·gin·ning, be·gins

verb, intransitive

To take the first step in performing an action; start.
To come into being: when life began.
To do or accomplish in the least degree: Those measures do not even begin to address the problem.

verb, transitive

To take the first step in doing; start: began work.
To cause to come into being; originate.
To come first in: The numeral 1 begins the sequence.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English biginnen

Origin: , from Old English beginnan

Russian-born Israeli politician. He led (1943-1948) Irgun, the Zionist underground movement in Palestine. After the establishment of Israel, Begin became a political leader known for his hard-line views on the Arabs, but as prime minister (1977-1983) he strove to resolve the Arab-Israel conflict. He shared the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize with Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt.

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