What is the meaning of dawning?

noun

• The first light of day.
  • usage: "we got up before dawn"; "they talked until morning"
  • synonyms: dawn, morning, aurora, first light, daybreak, break of day, break of the day, dayspring, sunrise, sunup, cockcrow

verb

• Become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions.
  • usage: "It dawned on him that she had betrayed him"; "she was penetrated with sorrow"
  • synonyms: click, get through, dawn, come home, get across, sink in, penetrate, fall into place
• Appear or develop.
  • usage: "The age of computers had dawned"
  • synonyms: dawn
• Become light.
  • usage: "It started to dawn, and we had to get up"
  • synonyms: dawn