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v. start·ed, start·ing, starts v.intr. 1. a. To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking: She started to dance. The dog started barking. Once we start in, we'll get a feel for the project. b. To move on the initial part of a journey: They started for the summit. 2. a. To have a beginning; commence: The movie starts at nine. b. To come quickly into view, life, or activity; spring forth: The boy's tears started when the balloon popped. c. To have as an initial part or job: I started as an assistant. 3. To move one's body or a part of it suddenly or involuntarily: started at the loud noise. 4. Sports To be in the initial lineup of a game or race. 5. To protrude or bulge: eyes that fairly started from their sockets in fear. 6. To become loosened or disengaged. v.tr. 1. b. To cause to come into being; make happen or originate: Bad wiring started the fire. The website started the rumor. c. To set into motion, operation, or activity: start an engine; a shot that started the race. 2. To begin to attend: start school. 3. To cause (someone) to have an initial position or role: The manager started him in marketing. 4. Sports a. To play in the initial lineup of (a game). b. To put (a player) into the initial lineup of a game. c. To enter (a participant) into a race or game. 5. To found; establish: start a business. 6. To tend in an early stage of development: start seedlings. 7. To rouse (game) from its hiding place or lair; flush. 8. To cause to become displaced or loosened. n. Idioms: 1. a. An act of beginning; an initial effort: I made a start on keeping a journal. b. The beginning of a new construction project: an application for a building start. c. A result of an initial effort: What we did may not sound like much, but it's a start. 2. A place or time of beginning: at the start of the decade. 3. Sports a. A starting line for a race. b. A signal to begin a race. c. An instance of beginning a race: a sprinter who improved her start. d. An instance of being in the starting lineup for a game, especially as a pitcher: In five starts, he has three wins. 4. A startled reaction or movement. 5. A part that has become dislocated or loosened. 6. A position of advantage over others, as in a race or an endeavor; a lead: Our rivals have a three-month start in research. 7. An opportunity granted to pursue a career or course of action. start a family To conceive or have a first child. start in on 1. To begin an activity regarding (something): start in on a new book. 2. To begin to criticize or complain about (someone or something). start something Informal To cause trouble. to start with 1. At the beginning; initially. 2. In any case. [Middle English sterten, to move or leap suddenly, from Old English *styrtan; see ster-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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