startle (ˈstɑːtəll
)
Definitions
verb
- to be or cause to be surprised or frightened, esp so as to start involuntarily
Alternative Forms
ˈstartler nounWord Origin
Old English steartlian to stumble; related to Middle High German starzen to strut, Norwegian sterta to strain oneselfTranslations
- British English:
startle
If something sudden and unexpected startles you, it surprises you and frightens you slightly.The sound of his voice startled her.ˈstɑːtl VERB The sound of his voice startled her.
- Spanish:
sobresaltar
v
- French: faire sursauter vt
- German:
erschrecken
v
- Chinese: 震惊 v
- Arabic: يُذْهِلُ v
- Portuguese: assustar v
- Russian: испугать v
- Croatian: prepasti v
- Czech: vylekat v lekat
- Danish: overraske v
- Dutch: doen schrikken v
- Finnish: pelästyttää v
- Greek: αιφνιδιάζω v
- Italian: sorprendere v
- Japanese: びっくりさせる v
- Korean: 깜짝 놀라게 하다 v
- Norwegian: skremme v
- Polish: zaskoczyć v zaskakiwać
- Brazilian Portuguese: assustar v
- European Spanish:
sobresaltar
v
- Swedish: skrämma v
- Thai: สะดุ้ง v
- Turkish: irkilmek v
- Vietnamese: làm giật mình v
Usage examples
The coloured water from the fountain was a revenge attack perpetrated by Mrs Lucas to startle Mrs Montagu.
, THE RIVAL QUEENS: A Countess Ashby de la Zouche Mystery (2002)The atlatl's extravagant throwing action makes it more prone to wild shots, and can startle the prey.
New Scientist (1999)"The chimps were smart enough to figure out they could startle people with it," she said.
canada.com (2004)Continuing round a bend, we startle a flock of luminous scarlet ibis, which explode into flight against the backdrop of emerald.
Times, Sunday Times (2002)But despite the stealth that Hannah had used so as not to startle the girl, Josie heard her.
, WALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS (2002)