commencement

1. The time at which something is supposed to begin (synset 115290329)
   "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her"
   is a type of: point, point in time - an instant of time
   subtypes:

   • birth - the time when something begins (especially life)
   • incipience, incipiency - beginning to exist or to be apparent
   • starting point, terminus a quo - earliest limiting point
   • threshold - the starting point for a new state or experience
   same as: beginning, first, get-go, kickoff, offset, outset, showtime, start, starting time
2. An academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred (synset 107469368)
   is a type of: exercise - (usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches
   has: baccalaureate - a farewell sermon to a graduating class at their commencement ceremonies
   same as: commencement ceremony, commencement exercise, graduation, graduation exercise
3. The act of starting something (synset 100236302)
   "he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations"
   is a type of: change of state - the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics
   subtypes:

   • jumping-off point, point of departure, springboard - a beginning from which an enterprise is launched
   • activation - making active and effective (as a bomb)
   • attack, tone-beginning - a decisive manner of beginning a musical tone or phrase
   • constitution, establishment, formation, organisation, organization - the act of forming or establishing something
   • debut, entry, first appearance, introduction, launching, unveiling - the act of beginning something new
   • face-off - (ice hockey) the method of starting play; a referee drops the puck between two opposing players
   • first step, initiative, opening, opening move - the first of a series of actions
   • groundbreaking, groundbreaking ceremony - the ceremonial breaking of the ground to formally begin a construction project
   • housing start - the act of starting to construct a house
   • icebreaker - a beginning that relaxes a tense or formal atmosphere
   • inauguration, startup - the act of starting a new operation or practice
   • creation, foundation, founding, initiation, innovation, instauration, institution, introduction, origination - the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new
   • installation, installing, installment, instalment - the act of installing something (as equipment)
   • jump ball - (basketball) the way play begins or resumes when possession is disputed; an official tosses the ball up between two players who jump in an effort to tap it to a teammate
   • kickoff - (football) a kick from the center of the field to start a football game or to resume it after a score
   • recommencement, resumption - beginning again
   • scrum, scrummage - (rugby) the method of beginning play in which the forwards of each team crouch side by side with locked arms; play starts when the ball is thrown in between them and the two sides compete for possession
   • startup - the act of setting in operation
   specific instances: creation - (theology) God's act of bringing the universe into existence
   same as: beginning, start

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