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Noun: commencement  ku'men(t)s-munt
  1. The time when something begins
    - beginning, first, outset, get-go [N. Amer], start, kickoff, starting time, showtime, offset
     
  2. An academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred
    - commencement exercise, commencement ceremony, graduation, graduation exercise
     
  3. The act of starting something
    "he was responsible for the commencement of negotiations";
    - beginning, start

Derived forms: commencements

Type of: change of state, exercise, point, point in time

Encyclopedia: Commencement