starter

American  

[stahr-ter] / ˈstɑr tər /

noun

starters plural

1. a person or thing that starts.

2. a person who gives the signal to begin, as for a race, the running of a train, bus, elevator, etc.

3. a device that starts an internal-combustion engine without a need for cranking by hand.

4. a person or thing that starts in a race or contest.

   Only five starters finished the race.

5. Also called starter culture.  a culture of bacteria used to start a particular fermentation, as in the manufacture of cheese, buttermilk, sour cream, etc.

6. Also called sourdough starter. 

   1. a mixture of water and flour left to ferment over several days to create dough for sourdough bread.

   2. sourdough.

7. Slang. a shill, as at a gaming table in a casino.

8. the card turned face up on the stack before the play, as in cribbage, crazy eights, and other card games.

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adjective

1. constituting a basis or beginning.

   a starter set of dishes; a starter home.

idioms

1. for starters, as the first step or part; initially; first.

   We will have soup for starters. For starters, he doesn't even know how to drive.

starter British  

/ ˈstɑːtə /

noun

1. a device for starting an internal-combustion engine, usually consisting of a powerful electric motor that engages with the flywheel Formerly called self-starter

2. a person who organizes the timely departure of buses, trains, etc

3. a person who supervises and signals the start of a race

4. a competitor who starts in a race or contest

5. informal an acceptable or practicable proposition, plan, idea, etc

6. informal a person who is willing to engage in a particular activity

7. a culture of bacteria used to start fermentation, as in making cheese or yogurt

8. the first course of a meal

9. (modifier) designed to be used by a novice

   a starter kit

10. slang in the first place

11. 1. (of horses in a race) awaiting the start signal

    2. (of a person) eager or ready to begin

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• starters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of starter

First recorded in 1530–40; start + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Starter doses of Lilly’s Zepbound will cost $299 per month under the new pricing announced at the White House.

From Barron's • Nov. 17, 2025

Just days before the budget impasse, Fire Starter completed the General Services Administration process that allows it to contract with government agencies at preset rates, an effort that took two years and cost roughly $10,000.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

Starter Walker Buehler then threw a one-two-three ninth inning to close the game and secure the Dodgers’ eighth World Series championship and their first full-season title since 1988.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2024

Starter was all right but the mane was dreadful.

From BBC • Aug. 18, 2024

Starter George Cassidy stepped into the starter’s box and Smith brought Seabiscuit up.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

• opener