starter

[ stahr-ter ]

/ ˈstɑr tər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR starter ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person or thing that starts.

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

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

a person or thing that starts in a race or contest: Only five starters finished the race.

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

Cookery. sourdough(def 1).

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

Cribbage. the card turned face up on the stack before the play.

adjective

constituting a basis or beginning: a starter set of dishes; a starter home.

Nearby words

start out, start over, start something, start up, start-up, starter, starter home, starters, starting block, starting gate, starting grid

Idioms

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.

Origin of starter

First recorded in 1530–40; start + -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for starters

For starters, that religious-themed movies are difficult to make and even more difficult to make successful.
Are You There, God? It’s Nicolas Cage and the Year in Cinematically Pimped Religion|Matthew Paul Turner|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For starters, from a purely practical, all-hands-on-deck position, I say if you can do the job, you should keep the job.
Justice Ginsburg Shouldn’t Quit Just Yet|Kevin Bleyer|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For starters: No one knows what the future strategy against ISIS will look like.
The Pentagon Is Officially Clueless About the ISIS War|Tim Mak|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For starters, both the bats and the virus have to be present.
Bats’ Link to Ebola Finally Solved|Carrie Arnold|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

For starters, the average age of the Best Actor Oscar nominees last year was 47.
Why Does Oscar Hate Young Men?|Kevin Fallon|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Starters should not wind on to bobbins when there is yarn on to piece up by.
Instruction book on ring spinning|Francis L. Lincoln
The starting judge clanged his bell again, and the other three starters came up.
The Bishop of Cottontown|John Trotwood Moore
The addition of starters made from yeast cultures resulted in the production of the undesirable condition.
Outlines of Dairy Bacteriology, 8th edition|H. L. Russell
The voices die away as the two starters, with the expert who fastens the gaffs, are left alone in the center.
The Social Cancer|Jos Rizal
You may be judges, or starters and offer the prizes, though, if you like.
The Outdoor Girls in a Winter Camp|Laura Lee Hope

British Dictionary definitions for starters

starter

/ (ˈstɑːtə) /

noun

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

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

a person who supervises and signals the start of a race

a competitor who starts in a race or contest

informal, mainly Australian and NZ an acceptable or practicable proposition, plan, idea, etc

Australian and NZ informal a person who is willing to engage in a particular activity

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

mainly British the first course of a meal

(modifier) designed to be used by a novicea starter kit

for starters slang in the first place

under starter's orders

(of horses in a race) awaiting the start signal
(of a person) eager or ready to begin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for starters

starter

c.1400, stertour "instigator; one who starts," agent noun from start (v.). For starters "to begin with" is 1873, American English colloquial. Starter home is from 1976; starter set is from 1946, originally of china.

Idioms and Phrases with starters

starters

see under for openers.

starter

noun

adjective

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Idioms

Origin of starter

Examples from the Web for starters

British Dictionary definitions for starters

starter

noun

Word Origin and History for starters

starter

Idioms and Phrases with starters

starters