Start Definition & Meaning

Home » How Do You Spell Start » Start Definition & Meaning

Maybe your like

  • American
  • British
  • Idioms
  • Related Words
  • Other Word Forms
  • Etymology
  • Examples
  • Related Words
    • Synonyms start 1 American [stahrt] / stɑrt /

    verb (used without object)

    1. to begin or set out, as on a journey or activity.

    2. to appear or come suddenly into action, life, view, etc.; rise or issue suddenly forth.

    3. to spring, move, or dart suddenly from a position or place.

      The rabbit started from the bush.

    4. to be among the entrants in a race or the initial participants in a game or contest.

    5. to give a sudden, involuntary jerk, jump, or twitch, as from a shock of surprise, alarm, or pain.

      The sudden clap of thunder caused everyone to start.

    6. to protrude.

      eyes seeming to start from their sockets.

    7. to spring, slip, or work loose from place or fastenings, as timbers or other structural parts.

    verb (used with object)

    1. to set moving, going, or acting; to set in operation.

      to start an automobile; to start a fire.

    2. to establish or found.

      to start a new business.

      Synonyms: institute

    3. to begin work on.

      to start a book.

      Antonyms: terminate, end

    4. to enable or help (someone) set out on a journey, a career, or the like.

      The record started the young singer on the road to stardom.

    5. to cause or choose to be an entrant in a game or contest.

      He started his ace pitcher in the crucial game.

    6. to cause (an object) to work loose from place or fastenings.

    7. to rouse (game) from its lair or covert; flush.

    8. to draw or discharge (liquid or other contents) from a vessel or container; empty (a container).

    9. Archaic. to cause to twitch, jump, or flinch involuntarily; startle.

    noun

    1. a beginning of an action, journey, etc.

      Synonyms: onset, commencement

    2. a signal to move, proceed, or begin, as on a course or in a race.

    3. a place or time from which something begins.

    4. the first part or beginning segment of anything.

      The start of the book was good but the last half was dull.

    5. an instance of being a participant in a race or an initial participant in a game or contest.

      The horse won his first two starts.

    6. a sudden, springing movement from a position.

    7. a sudden, involuntary jerking movement of the body.

      to awake with a start.

      Synonyms: jump, twitch

    8. a lead or advance of specified amount, as over competitors or pursuers.

    9. the position or advantage of one who starts first.

      The youngest child should have the start over the rest.

    10. a chance, opportunity, aid, or encouragement given to one starting on a course or career.

      The bride's parents gave the couple a start by buying them a house.

    11. a spurt of activity.

    12. a starting of parts from their place or fastenings in a structure.

    13. the resulting break or opening.

    14. an outburst or sally, as of emotion, wit, or fancy.

    START 2 American [stahrt] / stɑrt /

    noun

    1. Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

    start 1 British / stɑːt /

    verb

    1. to begin or cause to begin (something or to do something); come or cause to come into being, operation, etc

      he started a quarrel

      they started to work

    2. to make or cause to make a beginning of (a process, series of actions, etc)

      they started on the project

    3. (sometimes foll by up) to set or be set in motion

      he started up the machine

    4. (intr) to make a sudden involuntary movement of one's body, from or as if from fright; jump

    5. (intr; sometimes foll by up, away, etc) to spring or jump suddenly from a position or place

    6. to establish or be established; set up

      to start a business

    7. (tr) to support (someone) in the first part of a venture, career, etc

    8. to work or cause to work loose

    9. to enter or be entered in a race

    10. (intr) to flow violently from a source

      wine started from a hole in the cask

    11. (tr) to rouse (game) from a hiding place, lair, etc

    12. (intr) (esp of eyes) to bulge; pop

    13. an archaic word for startle

    14. informal (intr) to commence quarrelling or causing a disturbance

    15. in the first place

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    noun

    1. the first or first part of a series of actions or operations, a journey, etc

    2. the place or time of starting, as of a race or performance

    3. a signal to proceed, as in a race

    4. a lead or advantage, either in time or distance and usually of specified extent, in a competitive activity

      he had an hour's start on me

    5. a slight involuntary movement of the body, as through fright, surprise, etc

      she gave a start as I entered

    6. an opportunity to enter a career, undertake a project, etc

    7. informal a surprising incident

    8. a part that has come loose or been disengaged

    9. spasmodically; without concerted effort

    10. in the first place

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 START 2 British / stɑːt /

    acronym

    1. Strategic Arms Reduction Talks

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 start Idioms

      More idioms and phrases containing start

      • (start) from scratch
      • false start
      • fits and starts
      • for openers (starters)
      • from soup to nuts (start to finish)
      • get off the ground (to a flying start)
      • head start
      • running start
      • to start with

    Related Words

    See begin.

    Other Word Forms

    • misstart verb
    • nonstarting adjective
    • restart verb
    • unstarted adjective
    • unstarting adjective

    Etymology

    Origin of start

    First recorded before 1150; Middle English verb sterte(n), stirte(n), “to rush out, leap” (cognate with Middle High German sterzen ); replacing Old English styrtan (attested once), cognate with German stürzen; noun derivative of the verb

    Example Sentences

    Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

    "There are a number of farms still that are going to be hit and we've got to look at the impact in Northern Ireland and across the UK but this is a start."

    From BBC

    He was surprised when Henry "started hanging out, just following me around the workshop".

    From BBC

    “It’s really starting to look like it could be, there could be some stickiness out there,” she says.

    From Barron's

    That period starts on Dec. 24 this year.

    From Barron's

    Once we move to the “Mother” sequence, we’ve started to acclimate to the movie’s discomfiting rhythms — which is good considering that, if anything, Timothea and Lilith’s relationship with their mom is even frostier.

    From Los Angeles Times

    Related Words

    • appear
    • begin
    • commence
    • create
    • establish
    • found
    • inaugurate
    • initiate
    • introduce
    • issue
    • launch
    • leave
    • open
    • set up

    Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

    Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

    Tag » How Do You Spell Start