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start Definition

start (stärt)

intransitive verb

  1. to make a sudden, involuntary or unexpected movement, as when surprised; jump, leap, jerk, etc. in a startled way
  2. to be displaced; become loose, warped, etc.
  3. to stick out or seem to stick out eyes starting in fear
    1. to begin to do something or go somewhere; go into action or motion
    2. to make or have a beginning; commence
  5. to be among the beginning entrants, as in a race; be a starter
  6. to spring into being, activity, view, or the like

Etymology: ME sterten < OE styrtan & ON sterta, akin to Ger stürzen, to overthrow < IE *sterd- < base *(s)ter-, stiff, walk stiffly > stare, starve, stork

transitive verb

  1. to cause to jump or move suddenly; rouse or flush (game)
  2. to displace, loosen, warp, etc.
    1. to enter upon; begin to perform, play, do, etc.
    2. to cause or enable to begin; set into motion, action, or operation
  4. to introduce (a subject, topic, or discussion)
  5. to open and make the contents flow from (a receptacle); tap
    1. to give the starting signal for (a race) or to (the contestants in a race)
    2. to cause to be an entrant in a race, etc.
    3. to put (a player) into a game at the beginning
    4. to play in (a game) at the beginning: said of a player
  7. Now Chiefly Dial. to cause to start, or move involuntarily; startle

noun

  1. a sudden, brief shock or fright; startled reaction
  2. a sudden, startled movement; jump, leap, jerk, etc.
  3. sudden, usually brief bursts of activity: usually in the phrase by fits and starts
    1. a part that is loosened, warped, etc.
    2. a break or gap resulting from this
  5. a starting, or beginning; a getting into action or motion; commencement; specif., the fact of being part of the team that starts a game a pitcher with 30 starts for the season
    1. a place where, or a time when, a beginning is made, as in a race; starting point ahead from the start
    2. a lead or other advantage, as at the beginning of a race or contest
    3. a signal to begin, as in a race
  7. an opportunity of beginning or entering upon a career, etc.
  8. Archaic an outburst or fit, as of emotion, or a sally, as of wit

start Idioms

start a hare

Chiefly Brit. to initiate a topic of conversation

start in

☆

to begin a task, activity, etc.

start out

or start off
  1. to start a journey
  2. to make a start on some course of action or procedure

start something

to cause a disturbance or trouble

start up

  1. to rise up or stand suddenly, as in fright
  2. to come into being suddenly; spring up
  3. to cause (a motor, etc.) to begin running

START Definition

☆ START (stärt)

Strategic Arms Reduction Talks

start Synonyms

start

n.

  1. The beginning

    inception, commencement, inauguration; see origin 1.

  2. The point at which a start is made

    source, derivation, spring; see origin 2.

start Synonyms

start

v.

  1. To begin

    commence, rise, spring, get under way; see begin 2.

  2. To cause to start, sense 1

    inaugurate, start off, originate, embark upon; see begin 1, cause 2.

  3. To arouse

    rouse, incite, light; see excite 2.

  4. To cause to ignite

    light, set on fire, fire; see ignite. See syn. study at begin.

start Usage Examples

Object

  • point: Which brings us back to our starting point: how to deal with the media boycott of these issues.
  • salary: Initial starting salary is circa £ 14K plus a car!

Converse of object

  • mark: The parade marked the start of three days of music across the county.
  • herald: January heralded the start of the exam season and currently students are hard at work.

Preposition: at

  • beginning: Let's just start at the beginning, with an early public call for the closing of a powerful mosque.
  • pm: The meeting starts at 8 pm and will discuss what Fairtrade is and how organizations and the town can attain Fairtrade status.
  • noon: DAN is planning a Freedom March starting at 12 noon from the Monument in Newcastle on Saturday 27th May.

Adjective modifier

  • slow: As the race settled, Nigel Webb got up to third after a slow start, and John Chisholm held on to fourth.
  • shaky: I do not think that is true, but we cannot deny that we are off to a shaky start.

Modifies a noun

date: The usual start date is October of each year.

Followed by an intransitive particle

off: The season started off slowly with five draws out of their first seven League games.

Used with why or when

when: He would fuss and stop and start when feeding.

Infinitive complement

  • appear: In addition to the resident breeding birds during late summer wildfowl and waders start to appear.
  • feel: As soon as I started to feel good about myself again, I began to eat more healthily and I got stronger.

Present participle complement

  • think: Chris asked members to start thinking about the Club's development plan which will be a working document for the Committee to continue.
  • talk: Gordon Brown started talking tough this week about standing up to the unions over pensions.
  • write: In September 2003 we started writing a bid to Youth Music for a further year of funding.

Preposition: in

earnest: Once the new school is up and running, his Grand Prix training will start in earnest.

Preposition: of

season: Accrington Stanley Match Preview Fri 04 Aug The start of a new season.

Preposition: from

scratch: Consequently, after one of these options is taken, all spells must start from scratch.