start

¹

[ stahrt ]

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

[ stahrt ]

noun

1. Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

start

¹

/ 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. whenintr, sometimes foll by on 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. See startle
    an archaic word for startle
14. informal.
    intr to commence quarrelling or causing a disturbance
15. to start with
    to start with in the first place

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. by fits and starts
   by fits and starts spasmodically; without concerted effort
10. for a start
    for a start in the first place

START

²

/ stɑːt /

acronym for

1. Strategic Arms Reduction Talks

Other Words From

• mis·start verb
• non·starting adjective
• re·start verb noun
• un·started adjective
• un·starting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of start¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of start¹

Old English styrtan ; related to Old Norse sterta to crease, Old High German sturzen to rush

Idioms and Phrases

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

Synonym Study

See begin.

Example Sentences

And not just sick in the body but in your mind, because you start obsessing.

From The Daily Beast

Between 25 and 30, you’re trying to decide how much longer before you start growing a beard and calling yourself ‘Daddy.

From The Daily Beast

Kickstarter is one start-up platform that seems to have realized the danger.

From The Daily Beast

But maybe you have to start somewhere else — with Lamont Waltman Marvin, Monty, his father, the Chief, the old man.

From The Daily Beast

So Marvin had the old showbiz glamour in his life from the start.

From The Daily Beast

Keep closely covered with a bell glass and, in a few weeks, more or less, the baby Ferns will start to put in an appearance.

From Project Gutenberg

The smoke from her kitchen fire rose white as she put in dry sumac to give it a start.

From Project Gutenberg

There are sentimental children, as there are sentimental adults, who seem never happier than when the tears are ready to start.

From Project Gutenberg

But the day he planned to start was very cold—the mercury stood twenty-seven below zero.

From Project Gutenberg

He said that you were going along, and so I thought I'd hunt you up and tell you that we'll start about seven in the morning.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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