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 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.

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. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of starter¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

The left-handed starter was 27 and in the midst of his best season of seven in the big leagues when he died.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The 26-year-old is a certain starter for England at the World Cup next year, and Arsenal look far less effective without him.

Read more on BBC

When Cleveland traded Flacco in October, Gabriel got the first crack as the starter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

For starters, Alphabet still isn’t all that expensive.

Read more on Barron's

They’ve also become a bit of a cool decor trend, acting as a conversation starter with artful designs and unique covers.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• opener