start

1. 1

   The beginning of an activity.

   • The movie was entertaining from start to finish.
2. 2

   A sudden involuntary movement.

   • He woke with a start.
3. 3

   The beginning point of a race, a board game, etc.

   • Captured pieces are returned to the start of the board.
4. 4

   An appearance in a sports game, horserace, etc., from the beginning of the event.

   • Jones has been a substitute before, but made his first start for the team last Sunday.
5. 5

   A young plant germinated in a pot to be transplanted later.

   • You generally see nursery starts at garden centres in mid to late spring. Small annual plants are generally sold in four-packs or larger packs, with each cell holding a single young plant.
6. 6

   An initial advantage over somebody else; a head start.

   • to get, or have, the start
7. 7

   A happening or proceeding.UKarchaicslang

   • “It's a rum start, old John Madingley's coming down to Tunnleton,” said Grafton, one evening in the smoking-room; […]
8. 8

   Alternative letter-case form of Start (“a typical button for video games, originally used to start a game, now also often to pause or choose an option”)alt-of

1. 1

   To begin, commence, initiate.; To set in motion.ergative

   • to start a stream of water; to start a rumour; to start a business
   • I was some years ago engaged in conversation with a fashionable French Abbe, upon a subject which the people of that kingdom love to start in discourse.
2. 2

   To begin, commence, initiate.; To begin.ergative

   • The President fired the gun to start the footrace.
   • The rain started at 9:00.
3. 3

   To begin, commence, initiate.; To ready the operation of a vehicle or machine.ergative

   • to start the engine
4. 4

   To begin, commence, initiate.; To put or raise (a question, an objection); to put forward (a subject for discussion).ergative

5. 5

   To begin, commence, initiate.; To bring onto being or into view; to originate; to invent.ergative

   • Sensual men agree in the pursuit of every pleasure they can start.
6. 6

   To have its origin (at), begin.intransitive

   • The speed limit is 50 km/h, starting at the edge of town.
   • The blue line starts one foot away from the wall.
7. 7

   To move suddenly, from a previous state of rest; to startle.; To jerk, jump up, flinch, or draw back in surprise.intransitive

   • But if he start, It is the flesh of a corrupted heart.
   • I start as from some dreadful dream.
8. 8

   To move suddenly, from a previous state of rest; to startle.; To awaken suddenly.intransitive

   • I started from my sleep with horror; a cold dew covered my forehead, my teeth chattered, and every limb became convulsed; [...]
9. 9

   To move suddenly, from a previous state of rest; to startle.; To disturb and set in motion; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee.transitive

   • The hounds started a fox.
10. 10

    To move suddenly, from a previous state of rest; to startle.; To come loose, to break free of a firmly set position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate.ergative

    • the storm started the bolts in the vessel

syn. begin

ant. stop · end · cease · finish · conclude · complete

1. 1

   An instance of starting.

1. 1

   A projection or protrusion; that which pokes out.

2. 2

   The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water wheel bucket.

   • The fall of water is 6 feet, and the radius of the curve is 8 feet, from the centre of the water-wheel to the extreme point of the start.
3. 3

   The arm, or level, of a gin, drawn around by a horse.

   • ... horses, a number of men who seemed to acquire strength as the necessity for it increased, applied their shoulders to the starts, or shafts of the gin, and worked it with extraordinary speed. By twelve o'clock, thirty-two[…]
   • […] so that the horse may not expend his force in an oblique direction, but get a fair pull on the "starts."

1. 1

   Completely, utterly.archaicdialectal

   • Col.—The age has no sense—the people are start mad—as mad as a March mare. We should have fine times, indeed if our laws did'nt compel the poor people to protect the property of the rich.