noun, used as a suffix
newly commenced; just started
Noun suffix attached to time expressions or events to indicate something that has just begun. Common in phrases like 年明け (beginning of the year) or 明け方 (dawn).
年明けに新しいプロジェクトが始まる。
A new project starts at the beginning of the year.
明け方まで話し込んだ。
We talked until dawn.