starter

[ stahr-ter ]

noun

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 start·er cul·ture [stahr, -ter kuhl-cher]. a culture of bacteria used to start a particular fermentation, as in the manufacture of cheese, buttermilk, sour cream, etc. mother ².
6. Also called sour·dough star·ter [souuhr, -doh stahr-ter, sou, -er-].
   1. a mixture of water and flour left to ferment over several days to create dough for sourdough bread.
   2. sourdough ( def 1 ).
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.

adjective

1. constituting a basis or beginning:

   a starter set of dishes; a starter home.

starter

/ 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. for starters slang.
    in the first place
11. under starter's orders
    1. (of horses in a race) awaiting the start signal
    2. (of a person) eager or ready to begin

Word History and Origins

Origin of starter¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

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

Example Sentences

Same-sex marriage, a political non-starter only a few years ago, now enjoys solid majority support in national polls.

From The Daily Beast

Conversation starter: will that Financial Times piece about his data kill our deft and dashingly accented Prince Oberyn?

From The Daily Beast

They only have one brain, and jeopardizing its safety unnecessarily is a complete non-starter for me.

From The Daily Beast

They are vinous, herbaceous, and reminiscent of sourdough yeast starter.

From The Daily Beast

This was always going to be a non-starter because Democrats control the Senate as well as the White House.

From The Daily Beast

"Kick a few uh his ribs out uh place for a starter," Piegan coolly advised.

From Project Gutenberg

So it happened that this was the main thought in his mind when the starter's gong sounded and the racers shot away down the track.

From Project Gutenberg

He lifted his cap, entered the car, touched the starter and in a moment the car whisked away.

From Project Gutenberg

"That's only a starter—something down to prove good faith, you understand," whispered the stranger.

From Project Gutenberg

Advance spark lever about half way and throttle lever about one-quarter way and depress starter pedal.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• opener