onset

  1. Noun.  A rushing or setting upon; an attack; an assault; a storming; especially, the assault of an army.
  2. Noun.  (medicine) The initial phase of a disease or condition, in which symptoms first become apparent.
  3. Noun.  (phonology) The initial portion of a syllable, preceding the syllable nucleus.
  4. Noun.  (acoustics) The beginning of a musical note or other sound, in which the amplitude rises from zero to an initial peak.
  5. Noun.  (obsolete) A setting about; a beginning.
  6. Noun.  (obsolete) Anything set on, or added, as an ornament or as a useful appendage.
  7. Verb.  (obsolete) To assault; to set upon.
  8. Verb.  (obsolete) To set about; to begin.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.