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startle

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Startle is defined as to scare or surprise someone or to be scared or surprised.

(verb)

An example of to startle is to sneak up behind a friend and yell "Boo!"

The definition of a startle is a quick scare or surprise.

(noun)

An example of a startle is a person jumping out from behind a bush and shouting when his friend wasn't expecting it.

See startle in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb startled, startling

to surprise, frighten, or alarm suddenly or unexpectedly; esp., to cause to start, or move involuntarily, as from sudden fright

Origin: ME stertlen, to rush, stumble along, freq. of sterten: see start

intransitive verb

to be startled

noun

a start or shock, as of surprise or fright

Related Forms:

startler noun
startling adjective
startlingly adverb

See startle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb star·tled, star·tling, star·tles

verb, transitive

To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start.
To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten.

verb, intransitive

To become alarmed, frightened, or surprised.

noun

A sudden mild shock; a start.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English stertlen, to run about

Origin: , from Old English steartlian, to kick; see ster-¹ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

starˈtling·ly adverb

starˈtling·ness noun

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