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start

v. · n.
US //ˈstɑɹt// UK //stˈɑːt// start
  1. 1 to begin an activity (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to begin doing something or to happen from a certain time.

    to begin an action, state, or process; functions as an ergative verb taking either a gerund or an infinitive.

    Example

    We should start the meeting now because everyone has arrived.

    Example

    The research team decided to start the clinical trials earlier than planned to capitalise on the recent breakthrough in laboratory testing.
    Pitfall
    I will start to working tomorrow.
    I will start working tomorrow.

    After 'start', use either the -ing form or the 'to' infinitive, but do not mix them.

  2. 2 to make a machine work (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to make a car, engine, or machine begin to operate.

    to cause a machine, engine, or electronic device to begin operating.

    Example

    The car wouldn't start this morning because the battery was dead.

    Example

    Despite the freezing temperatures, the backup generator started immediately when the main power grid failed during the storm.
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  1. 3 to jump from surprise (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    to move your body suddenly because you are surprised or scared.

    to make a sudden involuntary movement of the body, typically caused by surprise, fear, or pain.

    Example

    She started when the door suddenly slammed shut behind her.

    Example

    The protagonist started at the sound of a floorboard creaking in the hallway, his heart racing in the absolute silence of the library.
  2. 4 the beginning (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the point in time or the place where something begins.

    the point in time or space at which something has its origin or beginning.

    Example

    The start of the movie was much better than the ending.

    Example

    From the start of the negotiations, it was clear that neither party was willing to compromise on the core environmental clauses.
  3. 5 an advantage (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sports

    an advantage that you have at the beginning of a competition.

    an initial advantage granted to a participant in a competition or task; often used in the phrase 'head start'.

    Example

    The younger children were given a ten-meter start in the race.

    Example

    By completing the preparatory reading over the summer, she gained a significant start on her classmates before the semester even began.
  4. 6 a young plant (n.)
    C1 Advanced American English Technical Horticulture

    a small, young plant that is ready to be moved into a garden.

    a seedling or young plant that has been germinated in a controlled environment for later transplantation.

    Example

    I bought some tomato starts at the local market to plant this weekend.

    Example

    The nursery provides high-quality vegetable starts that are already hardened off and ready for immediate outdoor cultivation.
  5. 7 a sudden movement (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a sudden, nervous movement of the body.

    a sudden involuntary physical reaction or jerk, often associated with waking or being startled.

    Example

    He woke up with a start after having a bad dream.

    Example

    She sat up with a sudden start, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar shadows in the hotel room.
Etymology 1

From Middle English stert, from the verb sterten (“to start, startle”). See below.

Etymology 2

From Middle English sterten (“to leap up suddenly, rush out”), from Old English styrtan (“to leap up, start”), from Proto-West Germanic sturtijan (“to startle, move, set in motion”), from Proto-Indo-European (s)ter- (“to be stiff”). Cognate with Old Frisian stirta (“to fall down, tumble”), Middle Dutch sterten (“to rush, fall, collapse”) (Dutch storten), Old High German sturzen (“to hurl, plunge, turn upside down”) (German stürzen), Old High German sterzan (“to be stiff, protrude”). More at stare.

Etymology 3

From Middle English stert, start (“tail, handle, projection”), from Old English steort (“tail”), from Proto-West Germanic stert, from Proto-Germanic stertaz (“tail”). Cognate with Scots start, stairt (“side post, shaft, upright post”), Dutch staart (“tail”), German Sterz (“tail, handle”), Danish stjert (“tail of a bird”), Faroese stertur (“tail”), Icelandic stertur (“short horse tail”), Norn skjårt (“tail”), sterti (“tail of a large fish”), stjårt (“tail of a large fish”), Norwegian stjert (“tail of a bird”), Swedish stjärt (“tail, arse”).

Etymology 4

Variant of stark.

Word family
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