- to start (a motor, motorcycle, etc.) by means of a lever attached to a pedal that one pushes sharply downward with the foot
- Informal to start, energize, revive, etc.
kick-start
kick-startWebster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"kick-start." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/kick-start>.
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kick-start. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/kick-start
kick-start
transitive verb
kick-start·ed, kick-start·ing, kick-starts- To start by using a kick starter: He kick-started the motorcycle and took off.
- Informal To start or reinvigorate (an activity, system, or process): kick-start the economy with a large construction project.
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"kick-start." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/kick-start>.
APA Style
kick-start. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/kick-start
Noun
(plural kickstarts)
- Alternative spelling of kick start.
Verb
(third-person singular simple present kickstarts, present participle kickstarting, simple past and past participle kickstarted)
- Alternative spelling of kick start.
Noun
(plural kick-starts)
- Alternative spelling of kick start.
Verb
(third-person singular simple present kick-starts, present participle kick-starting, simple past and past participle kick-started)
- Alternative spelling of kick start.
Noun
(plural kick starts)
- The metal bar on motorcycle that is used to start its engine.
- The act of starting a motorcycle by quickly depressing the kick start with one's foot.
- The motorcycle requires a kick start.
- A fast or strong start; help with starting or beginning well.
- As a kick start for the group, let's write up some ideas.
- An impetus that starts or restarts some process.
Verb
(third-person singular simple present kick starts, present participle kick starting, simple past and past participle kick started)
- To start a motorcycle
- To start or begin strongly or quickly.
- To kick start your learning, let's summarize the basics.
Usage notes
Noun senses 3 and 4, and verb sense 2, are considered incorrect in some circles; in all probability, the use of kick start to mean "revitalize" or "provide impetus" was derived from the metaphorical use of jump start in that sense.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"kick-start." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/kick-start>.
APA Style
kick-start. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/kick-start
