starter
- 01 A2 Elementary
a small dish of food that you eat before the main part of a meal.
the first course of a multi-course meal, typically savoury and smaller in portion than the main dish.
Simple“For my starter, I think I will have the tomato soup.”
In context“The restaurant offers a seasonal menu where the starter often features locally sourced seafood or organic vegetables.”
UsageCommonly used in British English; American English speakers usually prefer 'appetizer'.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a person who gives the signal for a race to begin.
an official responsible for signalling the start of a race or competition.
Simple“The starter raised his pistol and the runners got into position.”
In context“The race was delayed for several minutes because the starter noticed one of the athletes was not behind the line.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
an electric motor that starts a car's engine.
an electric motor or device used to initiate the operation of an internal combustion engine.
Simple“The car wouldn't turn over because the starter was broken.”
In context“The mechanic confirmed that the battery was fully charged, suggesting the issue lay with a faulty starter motor instead.”
Synonymsstarter motor - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
a player who is in the game from the very beginning.
a player who is part of the initial lineup at the commencement of a match.
Simple“He was proud to be named a starter for the championship game.”
In context“The coach decided to bench several regular starters to keep them fresh for the upcoming playoffs.”
Synonymsfirst stringerAntonyms - 05 B1 Intermediate
a person who is just beginning to learn or do something.
an individual at the earliest stage of an activity; also used for an initial item in a set.
Simple“This camera is a great starter for someone interested in photography.”
In context“As a starter in the industry, she spent most of her first year observing senior partners during negotiations.”
From start + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.