starter

American  

[stahr-ter] / ˈstɑr tər /

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.

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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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Etymology

Origin of starter

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

Example Sentences

Even in an era where the 200-inning starter has gone the way of the flannel uniform, Ohtani would need to log more innings to garner serious Cy Young consideration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The first is that they serve a defined role in his intricately detailed offensive scheme—such as four-year starter Alex Karaban, whose shooting has already led to two UConn titles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Before Freeman’s 407-foot blast, Pages had the only answers for Guardians starter Gavin Williams.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Who is a certain starter at the World Cup?

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

People were even talking about it in the press, wanting to know how far we’d go—semifinals, finals—but all we cared about was who was going to be a starter.

From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• opener