Standard Lemma guide

onset

name · noun · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɒnˌsɛt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈɔnˌsɛt/ Midland US, Southern US, without the cot–caught merger
  • /ˈɑnˌsɛt/ Northern US or with the cot–caught merger
  • CMU ARPABET: AA1 N S EH2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: AO1 N S EH2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

name

Meaning 1

A census-designated place in the town of Wareham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The initial phase of a disease or condition, in which symptoms first become apparent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: medicine, sciences

Examples

  • the onset of schizophrenia

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The initial portion of a syllable, preceding the syllable nucleus.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, phonology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: anlaut

4

noun

Meaning 4

The beginning of a musical note or other sound, in which the amplitude rises from zero to an initial peak.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: acoustics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A setting about; a beginning.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • the onset of puberty

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: start, beginning, birth, font, fount, inauguration, commencement, initiation, launch, source, spring, springtime, onset, origin, origination, youth

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

Anything added, such as an ornament or as a useful appendage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

An attack; an assault especially of an army.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: storming

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To assault; to set upon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To set about; to begin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the attack began at dawn

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: attack, onslaught, onrush

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: operation, military operation

Narrower terms: ground attack, charge, banzai attack, banzai charge, diversion, diversionary attack, penetration, incursion, blitz, blitzkrieg, strike, counterattack, countermove, bombing, bombardment, fire, firing, strafe, surprise attack, coup de main

11

noun

Meaning 11

the beginning or early stages

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the onset of pneumonia

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: oncoming

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: start

History

Etymology

From on- + set. Compare Old English onsettan (“to impose; oppress, bear down”). For semantic parallels for the meaning to assault, compare cognate Russian насе́сть pf (naséstʹ), наседа́ть impf (nasedátʹ).

Across languages

Translations

54 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: атака (ataka) — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Bulgarian: нападение (napadenie) — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Dutch: aanval — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Finnish: hyökkäys — (archaic) attack, assault
  • French: assaut — (archaic) attack, assault
  • French: attaque — (archaic) attack, assault
  • German: Angriff — (archaic) attack, assault
  • German: Ansturm — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Marathi: हल्ला (hallā) — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Portuguese: investida — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Romanian: asalt — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Romanian: atac — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Russian: ата́ка (atáka) — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Russian: наступле́ние (nastuplénije) — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Russian: на́тиск (nátisk) — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Spanish: arremetida — (archaic) attack, assault
  • Bulgarian: начална фаза (načalna faza) — (medicine) initial phase of a disease or condition
  • Dutch: aanvang — (medicine) initial phase of a disease or condition
  • Finnish: puhkeaminen — (medicine) initial phase of a disease or condition
  • French: début — (medicine) initial phase of a disease or condition
  • French: apparition — (medicine) initial phase of a disease or condition
  • German: Anzeichen — (medicine) initial phase of a disease or condition
  • Indonesian: awitan — (medicine) initial phase of a disease or condition
  • Latin: accessus — (medicine) initial phase of a disease or condition
  • Portuguese: anábase — (medicine) initial phase of a disease or condition
  • Romanian: debut — (medicine) initial phase of a disease or condition
  • Catalan: atac — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Esperanto: atako — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Finnish: aluke — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • French: attaque — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • German: Silbenansatz — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • German: Silbenanfang — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • German: Silbenanlaut — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Hungarian: szótagkezdet — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Hungarian: nyitány — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Hungarian: kezdet — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Italian: attacco — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Korean: 음절초 (eumjeolcho) — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Persian: آغازه (âġâze) — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Portuguese: ataque — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Russian: при́ступ (prístup) — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Spanish: ataque silábico — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Spanish: inicio silábico — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Swedish: ansats — (phonology) initial portion of a syllable
  • Finnish: aluke — (acoustics) beginning of a musical note
  • Finnish: atakki — (acoustics) beginning of a musical note
  • French: attaque — (acoustics) beginning of a musical note
  • German: Anstieg — (acoustics) beginning of a musical note
  • German: Einschwingvorgang — (acoustics) beginning of a musical note
  • German: Anstrich — (acoustics) beginning of a musical note
  • French: déclenchement — setting about, beginning
  • French: début — setting about, beginning
  • Marathi: प्रारंभ (prārambha) — setting about, beginning
  • Marathi: उद्धव (uddhav) — setting about, beginning