Noun: commencement ku'men(t)s-munt
- The act of starting something
"he was responsible for the commencement of negotiations";
- beginning, start
- The time when something begins
"The commencement of the storm caught them by surprise";
- beginning, outset, get-go [N. Amer], start, kickoff, starting time, showtime
- An academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred
"The commencement exercise was held in the university's grand auditorium"; "The graduates eagerly awaited their commencement ceremony";
- commencement exercise, commencement ceremony, graduation, graduation exercise
Derived forms: commencements
Type of: change of state, exercise, point, point in time
Antonym: finish
Encyclopedia: Commencement