principio

principio(
preen
-
see
-
pyoh
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g. el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
1. (commencement)
a. beginning
Mi boda fue el principio de mi nueva vida.My wedding was the beginning of my new life.
b. start
No me gustó el principio del libro, pero se puso interesante hacia el final.I didn't like the start of the book but it got interesting towards the end.
2. (rule)
a. principle
Dos más dos son cuatro es un principio matemático verdadero.Two plus two equals four is a true mathematical principle.
3. (provenance)
a. origin
El latín después de la caída del imperio romano es el principio de la lengua española.After the fall of the Roman empire, Latin is the origin of the Spanish language.
b. source
Ganar la lotería ha sido el principio de todos mis problemas.Winning the lottery has been the source of all my problems.
4. (chemistry)
a. ingredient
El principio activo en este calmante es paracetamol.The active ingredient in this painkiller is acetaminophen.
Copyright © Curiosity Media Inc.
principio
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).
Noun
1. (comienzo)
a. beginning, start
el principio del finthe beginning of the end
del principio al fin, desde el principio hasta el finfrom beginning to end, from start to finish
a principios deat the beginning of
al principioat first, in the beginning
en principio quedamos en hacer una reunión el juevesprovisionally o unless you hear otherwise, we've arranged to meet on Thursday
en un principioat first
2. (fundamento, ley)
a. principle
en principioin principle
por principioon principle
3. (origen)
a. origin, source
4. (elemento)
a. element
principio activoactive ingredient
principiosprinciples
Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited
principio
1 (comienzo) beginning
al principio at first; in the beginning
a principios de
a principios del verano at the beginning of the summer; early in the summer; desde el principio from the first; from the outset; desde el principio hasta el fin from start to finish; from beginning to end; en un principio at first; to start with; dar principio a algo to start sth off; tener principio en algo to start from sth; be based on sth
2 principios (nociones) rudiments; first notions
"Principios de física" "Introduction to Physics"; "Outline of Physics"
3 (norma) principle
persona de principios man of principles; en principio in principle; por principio on principle; es inmoral por principio it is immoral in principle; sin principios unprincipled; el principio de la legalidad the force of law; the rule of law
4 (Filosofía) principle
5 (Química) element; constituent
6 (Culin) entrée
Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
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