# starter

/ˈstɑɹtɝ/ (US) · /stˈɑːtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/starter
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. first course of a meal

noun · CEFR A2 · British English

a small dish of food that you eat before the main part of a meal.

For teachers: the first course of a multi-course meal, typically savoury and smaller in portion than the main dish.

- For my starter, I think I will have the tomato soup.
- The restaurant offers a seasonal menu where the starter often features locally sourced seafood or organic vegetables.

Usage: Commonly used in British English; American English speakers usually prefer 'appetizer'.

### 2. person starting a race

noun · CEFR B1

a person who gives the signal for a race to begin.

For teachers: an official responsible for signalling the start of a race or competition.

- The starter raised his pistol and the runners got into position.
- The race was delayed for several minutes because the starter noticed one of the athletes was not behind the line.

### 3. car engine part

noun · CEFR B2

an electric motor that starts a car's engine.

For teachers: an electric motor or device used to initiate the operation of an internal combustion engine.

- The car wouldn't turn over because the starter was broken.
- The mechanic confirmed that the battery was fully charged, suggesting the issue lay with a faulty starter motor instead.

### 4. sports team member

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a player who is in the game from the very beginning.

For teachers: a player who is part of the initial lineup at the commencement of a match.

- He was proud to be named a starter for the championship game.
- The coach decided to bench several regular starters to keep them fresh for the upcoming playoffs.

### 5. beginner or first item

noun · CEFR B1

a person who is just beginning to learn or do something.

For teachers: an individual at the earliest stage of an activity; also used for an initial item in a set.

- This camera is a great starter for someone interested in photography.
- As a starter in the industry, she spent most of her first year observing senior partners during negotiations.

## Examples

- I ordered a soup as a starter.
- The restaurant offers a wide variety of hot and cold starters including garlic bread and calamari.
- While the main course was certainly impressive, the delicate balance of flavors in the seafood starter remained the highlight of the entire evening for most guests.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.