English Explanatory Dictionary

beginner

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Someone who is just starting at something, or has only recently started.
  2. Someone who sets something in motion.
  3. An actor who is present on stage in the first moments of a play.

Pronunciation

/bɪˈɡɪnə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-beginner.wav /bəˈɡɪnɚ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-beginner.wav

Word forms

beginner beginners

Etymology

From Middle English begynner, equivalent to begin + -er. Cognate with West Frisian begjinner (“beginner”), Dutch beginner (“beginner”), Low German begünner (“beginner”), Danish nybegynder (“beginner, novice”, literally “new-beginner”).

Synonyms

amateur newbie abecedarian alphabetarian apprentice beginner bun colt first-timer fledgling FNG fresh meat freshman greenhorn greenie greener homo novus inceptor initiate Johnny-come-lately learner neophyte newb newbro new chum newcomer newfag newfriend newling noob n00b novice novitiate nozzer nub nubcake puny pup probationer probationist probie recruit stranger rookie tenderfoot trainee tyro younker

Antonyms

campaigner cognoscente connoisseur expert journeyman knowbie master maven old hand old sweat oldbie oldtimer skilled person specialist trouper veteran

Related words

new naive inexperienced unskilled person

Derived words

beginnerish beginner slope beginner's trap prebeginner
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on B Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary