(1) 开头(端)，起点 (first start; starting-point) [C]：make a good～ 开一个好头;the～of the world 世界的开端;No one likes to wear glasses in the～. 一开始谁都不爱戴眼镜。At/In the～he took no interest in it.开始的时候他对这不感兴趣。(at) the～of a film/a trip/a century (在)电影/旅行/世纪的开头;start/begin (right) at the～从头开始/开始;oppose sth (right) at the～一开始就反对;read sth/fail from the (very)～从头读/从一开始就失败了;from～to end 从头至尾，自始至终; in the～开始时，起初;〖同〗start;〖反〗end，ending，finish;

(2) 起源 (source; origin) [C， 常pl]：The big business started from small～s.这家大企业是一点点集聚起来的。At these diggings a shanty town grew， the～of the city Kimberley.在这些采矿场附近形成了一个棚户区，这就是金伯利市的发源地。〖同〗origin，source;〖反〗end，ending;

(3) 早期(initial period) [C， 常pl]：the～s of a nation/a volcano/a new relationship一个民族的早期(历史)/一座火山的初期爆发/一种新关系的开始