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

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Etymology

Origin of starter

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

starter starters

It was preamble, roadmap, consultation, perhaps the starter to the main course, which appears to be the PM's 10-year plan next month.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

“Normally it’s 35,000 against 9,” said Brewers starter Robert Gasser, who allowed just one hit over six shutout innings Monday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

Meanwhile, the nailed-on starter at fly-half Fin Smith will also miss training this week with a calf niggle, although his injury is not thought to be serious.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

In Pittsburgh, starter prices had jumped 5%, beating the upper end of the market’s 2.6% growth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

He and Mom decided we should move back to the desert and resume our hunt for gold without our starter money.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

In 1934, when two undefeated teams, New York University and City College of New York, played, nine of the 10 starters were Jewish.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

For starters, a lot of thought and time probably went into that spreadsheet.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 24, 2026

Aaron Donald and Braden Fiske are the remaining starters, and Tyler Davis, Larrell Murchison and Ty Hamilton will assume larger roles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026

The union said most Royal Mail workers leaving the company were believed to be new starters on part-time contracts, but also said there had been an increase in staff on legacy contracts departing.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Two assistant starters, almost certainly called in by War Admiral’s handlers, showed up to lead the horses to the walk-up.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

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