start (n.)

  1. the beginning of anything; it was off to a good start'

  2. the time at which something is supposed to begin; they got an early start; she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her

    [ Syn: beginning , beginning , commencement , commencement , first , first , outset , outset , get-go , get-go , kickoff , kickoff , starting time , starting time , showtime , showtime , offset , offset ]

  3. a turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning); he got his start because one of the regular pitchers was in the hospital; his starting meant that the coach thought he was one of their best linemen

    [ Syn: starting ]

  4. a sudden involuntary movement; he awoke with a start

    [ Syn: startle , jump ]

  5. the act of starting something; he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations

    [ Syn: beginning , commencement ]

  6. a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game

    [ Syn: starting line , scratch , scratch line ]

  7. a signal to begin (as in a race); the starting signal was a green light; the runners awaited the start

    [ Syn: starting signal ]

  8. the advantage gained by beginning early (as in a race); with an hours start he will be hard to catch

    [ Syn: head start ]

    start (v.)

  1. take the first step or steps in carrying out an action; We began working at dawn; Who will start?; Get working as soon as the sun rises!; The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia; He began early in the day; Lets get down to work now

    [ Syn: get down , begin , get , start out , set about , set out , commence ]

  2. begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job; Take up a position; start a new job

    [ Syn: take up ]

  3. play in the starting lineup

  4. have a beginning characterized in some specified way; The novel begins with a murder; My property begins with the three maple trees; Her day begins with a workout; The semester begins with a convocation ceremony

    [ Syn: begin ]

  5. begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object; begin a cigar; She started the soup while it was still hot; We started physics in 10th grade

    [ Syn: begin ]

  6. bulge outward; His eyes popped

    [ Syn: protrude , pop , pop out , bulge , bulge out , bug out , come out ]

  7. set in motion, cause to start; The U.S. started a war in the Middle East; The Iraqis began hostilities; begin a new chapter in your life

    [ Syn: begin , lead off , commence ]

  8. leave; The family took off for Florida

    [ Syn: depart , part , start out , set forth , set off , set out , take off ]

  9. have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense; The DMZ begins right over the hill; The second movement begins after the Allegro; Prices for these homes start at $250, 000

    [ Syn: begin ]

  10. bring into being; He initiated a new program; Start a foundation

    [ Syn: originate , initiate ]

  11. get off the ground; Who started this company?; We embarked on an exciting enterprise; I start my day with a good breakfast; We began the new semester; The afternoon session begins at 4 PM; The blood shed started when the partisans launched a surprise attack

    [ Syn: start up , embark on , commence ]

  12. move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm; She startled when I walked into the room

    [ Syn: startle , jump ]

  13. get going or set in motion; We simply could not start the engine; start up the computer

    [ Syn: start up ]

  14. begin or set in motion; I start at eight in the morning; Ready, set, go!

    [ Syn: go , get going ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.