start

¹

[ stahrt ]

verb (used without object)

1. to begin or set out, as on a journey or activity.
2. to appear or come suddenly into action, life, view, etc.; rise or issue suddenly forth.
3. to spring, move, or dart suddenly from a position or place:

   The rabbit started from the bush.

4. to be among the entrants in a race or the initial participants in a game or contest.
5. to give a sudden, involuntary jerk, jump, or twitch, as from a shock of surprise, alarm, or pain:

   The sudden clap of thunder caused everyone to start.

6. to protrude:

   eyes seeming to start from their sockets.

7. to spring, slip, or work loose from place or fastenings, as timbers or other structural parts.

verb (used with object)

1. to set moving, going, or acting; to set in operation:

   to start an automobile; to start a fire.

2. to establish or found:

   to start a new business.

   Synonyms: institute

3. to begin work on:

   to start a book.

   Antonyms: terminate, end

4. to enable or help (someone) set out on a journey, a career, or the like:

   The record started the young singer on the road to stardom.

5. to cause or choose to be an entrant in a game or contest:

   He started his ace pitcher in the crucial game.

6. to cause (an object) to work loose from place or fastenings.
7. to rouse (game) from its lair or covert; flush.
8. to draw or discharge (liquid or other contents) from a vessel or container; empty (a container).
9. Archaic. to cause to twitch, jump, or flinch involuntarily; startle.

noun

1. a beginning of an action, journey, etc.

   Synonyms: onset, commencement

2. a signal to move, proceed, or begin, as on a course or in a race.
3. a place or time from which something begins.
4. the first part or beginning segment of anything:

   The start of the book was good but the last half was dull.

5. an instance of being a participant in a race or an initial participant in a game or contest:

   The horse won his first two starts.

6. a sudden, springing movement from a position.
7. a sudden, involuntary jerking movement of the body:

   to awake with a start.

   Synonyms: jump, twitch

8. a lead or advance of specified amount, as over competitors or pursuers.
9. the position or advantage of one who starts first:

   The youngest child should have the start over the rest.

10. a chance, opportunity, aid, or encouragement given to one starting on a course or career:

    The bride's parents gave the couple a start by buying them a house.

11. a spurt of activity.
12. a starting of parts from their place or fastenings in a structure.
13. the resulting break or opening.
14. an outburst or sally, as of emotion, wit, or fancy.

START

²

[ stahrt ]

noun

1. Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

START

¹

/ stɑːt /

acronym for

1. Strategic Arms Reduction Talks

start

²

/ stɑːt /

verb

1. to begin or cause to begin (something or to do something); come or cause to come into being, operation, etc

   he started a quarrel

   they started to work

2. whenintr, sometimes foll by on to make or cause to make a beginning of (a process, series of actions, etc)

   they started on the project

3. sometimes foll by up to set or be set in motion

   he started up the machine

4. intr to make a sudden involuntary movement of one's body, from or as if from fright; jump
5. intr; sometimes foll by up, away, etc to spring or jump suddenly from a position or place
6. to establish or be established; set up

   to start a business

7. tr to support (someone) in the first part of a venture, career, etc
8. to work or cause to work loose
9. to enter or be entered in a race
10. intr to flow violently from a source

    wine started from a hole in the cask

11. tr to rouse (game) from a hiding place, lair, etc
12. intr (esp of eyes) to bulge; pop
13. an archaic word for startle
14. informal.
    intr to commence quarrelling or causing a disturbance
15. to start with
    in the first place

noun

1. the first or first part of a series of actions or operations, a journey, etc
2. the place or time of starting, as of a race or performance
3. a signal to proceed, as in a race
4. a lead or advantage, either in time or distance and usually of specified extent, in a competitive activity

   he had an hour's start on me

5. a slight involuntary movement of the body, as through fright, surprise, etc

   she gave a start as I entered

6. an opportunity to enter a career, undertake a project, etc
7. informal.
   a surprising incident
8. a part that has come loose or been disengaged
9. by fits and starts
   spasmodically; without concerted effort
10. for a start
    in the first place

Other Words From

• mis·start verb
• non·starting adjective
• re·start verb noun
• un·started adjective
• un·starting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of start¹

First recorded before 1150; Middle English verb sterte(n), stirte(n), “to rush out, leap” (cognate with Middle High German sterzen ); replacing Old English styrtan (attested once), cognate with German stürzen; noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of start¹

Old English styrtan ; related to Old Norse sterta to crease, Old High German sturzen to rush

Idioms and Phrases

• false start
• fits and starts
• for openers (starters)
• (start) from scratch
• from soup to nuts (start to finish)
• get off the ground (to a flying start)
• head start
• running start
• to start with

Synonym Study

See begin.

Example Sentences

Southern England, East Anglia, the Midlands and Wales may start the evening with clear skies before clouding over later.

From BBC

Conversely much of Scotland is likely to start off cloudy before skies clear from the north overnight.

From BBC

Single-occupancy cabins start at $79,999 for one year and $255,999 for four years.

From Salon

Their task at the start was to “give certain rules to our language, to render it pure and eloquent” – to which end they set about writing their first dictionary.

From BBC

So then we start thinking, Well, what about capturing it for the screen it happens to be on right now?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appear
• begin
• commence
• create
• establish
• found
• inaugurate
• initiate
• introduce
• issue
• launch
• leave
• open
• set up