start (stɑːt
)
Definitions
verb
- 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
- intr, sometimes foll by on to make or cause to make a beginning of (a process, series of actions, etc) ⇒
they started on the project
- (sometimes foll by up) to set or be set in motion ⇒
he started up the machine
- (intr) to make a sudden involuntary movement of one's body, from or as if from fright; jump
- (intr; sometimes foll by up, away, etc) to spring or jump suddenly from a position or place
- to establish or be established; set up ⇒
to start a business
- (tr) to support (someone) in the first part of a venture, career, etc
- to work or cause to work loose
- to enter or be entered in a race
- (intr) to flow violently from a source ⇒
wine started from a hole in the cask
- (tr) to rouse (game) from a hiding place, lair, etc
- (intr) (esp of eyes) to bulge; pop
- an archaic word for startle
- (intr) British informal to commence quarrelling or causing a disturbance
- See to start with
noun
- the first or first part of a series of actions or operations, a journey, etc
- the place or time of starting, as of a race or performance
- a signal to proceed, as in a race
- 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
- a slight involuntary movement of the body, as through fright, surprise, etc ⇒
she gave a start as I entered
- an opportunity to enter a career, undertake a project, etc
- informal a surprising incident
- a part that has come loose or been disengaged
- See by fits and starts
- See for a start
Word Origin
Old English styrtan ; related to Old Norse sterta to crease, Old High German sturzen to rushSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
set about,
begin,
proceed,
embark upon,
take the plunge,
take the first step make a beginning put your hand to the plough
=
begin,
arise,
originate,
issue,
appear,
kick in,
commence,
get under way come into being come into existence first see the light of day
= set in motion
initiate,
instigate,
open,
trigger,
kick off,
originate,
get going
engender,
kick-start,
get (something) off the ground
enter upon,
get or set or start the ball rolling
=
establish,
begin,
found,
father,
create,
launch,
set up,
introduce,
institute,
pioneer,
initiate,
inaugurate,
lay the foundations of
=
start up,
activate,
get something going
fire up,
set in motion start something functioning or operating
=
beginning,
outset,
opening,
birth,
foundation,
dawn,
first step(s)
onset,
initiation,
inauguration,
inception,
commencement,
kickoff,
opening move
Translations
- British English:
start
If you make a start on doing something, you begin to do it.After several starts, she read the report properly.stɑːt NOUN After several starts, she read the report properly.
- Spanish:
comienzo
nm
- French:
départ
nm
- German:
Beginn
nm
- Chinese: 开始 n
- Arabic: بَدْء n
- Portuguese: começo nm
- Russian: начало nnt
- Croatian: početak nm
- Czech: začátek nm
- Danish: start nutr
- Dutch: start nm
- Finnish: alku n
- Greek: εκκίνηση nf
- Italian: inizio nm
- Japanese: 開始 n
- Korean: 시작 n
- Norwegian: start nm
- Polish: początek nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: começo nm
- European Spanish:
comienzo
nm
- Swedish: start nutr
- Thai: การเริ่ม n
- Turkish: başlangıç n
- Vietnamese: phần đầu n
- British English:
start
If you start to do something, you begin to do it.She started to read her book.stɑːt VERB She started to read her book.
- Spanish:
comenzar
v
- French:
commencer
vt
- German: anfangen mit vi
- Chinese: 开始 vt
- Arabic: يَبْدَأُ vt
- Portuguese: começar vt
- Russian: начинать vt
- Croatian: početi v
- Czech: nastartovat vt startovat
- Danish: starte v
- Dutch: starten vt
- Finnish: aloittaa vt
- Greek: αρχίζω vt
- Italian: iniziare vt
- Japanese: 始める vt
- Korean: ...을 시작하다 vt
- Norwegian: starte vt
- Polish: zacząć vt zaczynać
- Brazilian Portuguese: começar vt
- European Spanish:
comenzar
v
- Swedish: börja vt
- Thai: เริ่ม เริ่มทำ เริ่มต้น vt
- Turkish: başlamak vt
- Vietnamese: bắt đầu v
- British English:
start
When something starts, it begins.When does the film start? We started an Internet advertising company.stɑːt VERB When does the film start? We started an Internet advertising company.
- Spanish:
originarse
v
- French:
commencer
vi
- German:
beginnen
vi
- Chinese: 开始 vi
- Arabic: يَبْدَأُ vi
- Portuguese: começar vi
- Russian: начинаться vi
- Croatian: prenuti se v
- Czech: začít vi začínat
- Danish: starte v
- Dutch: starten vi
- Finnish: alkaa vi
- Greek: ξεκινώ vi
- Italian: incominciare vi
- Japanese: 始まる vi
- Korean: 시작되다 vi
- Norwegian: starte vi
- Polish: zacząć vi zaczynać
- Brazilian Portuguese: começar vi
- European Spanish:
empezar
v
- Swedish: börja vi
- Thai: เริ่ม ลงมือ ทำให้เกิด vi
- Turkish: başlatmak vi
- Vietnamese: bắt đầu v
Usage examples
The Midwinter Festival was to start in a few days. Construction of the Frost Fair was in full swing.
, LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)But when spots become crowded, and hard, heavy surfboards start flying around, accidents happen regularly.
Country Life (2004)Microsoft will start with just 20 titles here, putting it at a considerable disadvantage to Sony.
Irish Times (2002)Many of the new estates have already been booked, interest being high even though deliveries won't start till next month.
Glasgow Herald (2001)We hit a turbulent wind sheer section which was the start of the bad weather feature.
, FATAL STORM (2001)