a person or thing that begins.

a person who has begun a course of instruction or is learning the fundamentals

swimming for beginners.

a person who is inexperienced; novice.

noun

expert , old hand , professional , veteran

noun

abecedarian , amateur , apprentice , buckwheater , catechumen , colt , fish * , fledgling , greenhorn , greenie , initiate , learner , neophyte , newcomer , new kid on the block * , new person , novice , novitiate , probationer , recruit , starter , student , tenderfoot * , trainee , tyro , freshman , tenderfoot , candidate , debutante , entrant , founder , postulate , rookie , tiro , understudy