start Definition
start (stärt)
intransitive verb
- to make a sudden, involuntary or unexpected movement, as when surprised; jump, leap, jerk, etc. in a startled way
- to be displaced; become loose, warped, etc.
- to stick out or seem to stick out eyes starting in fear
- to begin to do something or go somewhere; go into action or motion
- to make or have a beginning; commence
- to be among the beginning entrants, as in a race; be a starter
- 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
- to cause to jump or move suddenly; rouse or flush (game)
- to displace, loosen, warp, etc.
- to enter upon; begin to perform, play, do, etc.
- to cause or enable to begin; set into motion, action, or operation
- to introduce (a subject, topic, or discussion)
- to open and make the contents flow from (a receptacle); tap
- to give the starting signal for (a race) or to (the contestants in a race)
- to cause to be an entrant in a race, etc.
- to put (a player) into a game at the beginning
- to play in (a game) at the beginning: said of a player
- Now Chiefly Dial. to cause to start, or move involuntarily; startle
noun
- a sudden, brief shock or fright; startled reaction
- a sudden, startled movement; jump, leap, jerk, etc.
- sudden, usually brief bursts of activity: usually in the phrase by fits and starts
- a part that is loosened, warped, etc.
- a break or gap resulting from this
- 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
- a place where, or a time when, a beginning is made, as in a race; starting point ahead from the start
- a lead or other advantage, as at the beginning of a race or contest
- a signal to begin, as in a race
- an opportunity of beginning or entering upon a career, etc.
- 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- to start a journey
- to make a start on some course of action or procedure
start something
to cause a disturbance or trouble
start up
- to rise up or stand suddenly, as in fright
- to come into being suddenly; spring up
- to cause (a motor, etc.) to begin running
START Definition
☆ START (stärt)
Strategic Arms Reduction Talks
start Synonyms
start
n.
The beginning
inception, commencement, inauguration; see origin 1.The point at which a start is made
source, derivation, spring; see origin 2.
start Synonyms
start
v.
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.
Browse dictionary entries near start
- ‹ starship
- ‹ Stars and Stripes
- ‹ Stars and Bars
- ‹ starry-eyed
- ‹ starry
- ‹ starred
- ‹ Starr, Roger
- ‹ starlit
- ‹ starling
- ‹ starlike

