beginning point

[/bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ pɔɪnt/]
nounpl: beginning points
ponto de partida
1. the initial location, stage, or moment from which something starts or originates
The beginning point of our journey was at the city center.
O ponto de partida da nossa jornada foi no centro da cidade.
2. a starting reference or foundation for further development, discussion, or action
Let's use this research as the beginning point for our project.
Vamos usar esta pesquisa como ponto de partida para nosso projeto.
3. the point in space or time where something commences
The beginning point of the race is marked by a white line.
O ponto de partida da corrida é marcado por uma linha branca.
In both Brazilian Portuguese and American English, 'beginning point' and 'ponto de partida' are formal, neutral terms commonly used in academic, business, and technical contexts. The phrase is particularly prevalent in project management, scientific research, and educational settings. In Brazil, 'ponto de partida' is idiomatic and frequently used metaphorically to describe the foundation of any endeavor or discussion.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
starting pointpoint of departureorigincommencementinception
Antonyms / Antônimos
ending pointconclusionterminusfinish

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ponto de partida
most common and widely used term across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
ponto de saída
alternative used in colloquial contexts
São Paulo
ponto inicial
used interchangeably with ponto de partida in formal contexts
Portugal
ponto de partida
same as Brazilian Portuguese; slight preference for 'início' in some contexts

Related Words

commenceinitiatestartfoundationbaseline

Related Idioms & Phrases

starting from scratch
back to square one
from the ground up
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