Definition

1. Noun:

   • The beginning of an activity or event: The point in time or space at which something commences.
   • A sudden, brief movement of the body due to surprise or alarm: A quick, involuntary jerk.
   • An advantage given at the beginning of a race or competition: A lead or head start.
   • An opportunity to begin a career or activity: A chance to enter a field or role.

2. Verb:

   • To begin an action, process, or journey: To set something in motion or commence doing something.
   • To cause (a machine or device) to begin operating: To activate or turn on.
   • To establish or found something: To bring an organization or enterprise into existence.
   • To move suddenly and involuntarily because of fear, surprise, or pain: To jerk or jump.
   • To begin operating or functioning: To come into being or activity.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The start of the race was signaled by a gunshot.
  • She woke up with a start when the alarm went off.
  • He got a 10-meter start in the race.
  • His first job was the start of a brilliant career.

• Verb:

  • Let's start the meeting at 9 AM.
  • I can't start the car; the battery might be dead.
  • They started a new charity to help the homeless.
  • He started in fear when he heard the loud noise.
  • The engine finally started after several attempts.

Advanced Usage

• "to get off to a good/bad start": To begin an activity successfully/unsuccessfully.
  • The project got off to a good start with strong team collaboration.
• "to start from scratch": To begin something from the very beginning, without using any prior work or advantage.
  • After the fire, they had to start their business from scratch.
• "for a start": Used to introduce the first point in a list or argument.
  • We can't afford it. For a start, it's too expensive.

Variants and Related Words

• Starter (n): A person or thing that starts something; an appetizer.
  • He was the starter in today's football game.
• Starting (adj/n): Relating to the beginning; the act of beginning.
  • The starting point for the hike is at the visitor center.
• Start-up (n): A newly established business.
  • She works for a tech start-up in the city. (Note: This is a compound noun listed separately as a variant.)

Synonyms

• Begin (v): To perform the first part of an action; to start.
• Commence (v): To begin formally.
• Initiate (v): To cause a process or action to begin.
• Jump (v): To move suddenly (for the involuntary movement sense).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Start off: To begin a journey or activity.
  • We'll start off early to avoid the traffic.
• Start on: To begin working on or dealing with something.
  • I need to start on my homework.
• Start out: To begin one's life, career, or a journey.
  • He started out as a junior assistant.
• Start up: To cause an engine or machine to begin operating; to establish a business.
  • It's difficult to start up a new company in this economy.

Related Idioms

• A rum start: (British, informal) A strange or surprising event.
  • Well, that was a rum start to the day!
• By fits and starts: In an irregular or inconsistent manner.
  • The project progressed by fits and starts.
• To start with a clean slate: To begin again, forgetting past mistakes or issues.
  • After the apology, they decided to start with a clean slate.

Noun

1. the advantage gained by beginning early (as in a race)
   • with an hour's start he will be hard to catch
2. a signal to begin (as in a race)
   • the starting signal was a green light
   • the runners awaited the start
3. a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game
4. the act of starting something
   • he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations
5. a sudden involuntary movement
   • he awoke with a start
6. 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
7. 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
8. the beginning of anything
   • it was off to a good start

Verb

1. bulge outward
   • His eyes popped
2. 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
3. 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
4. play in the starting lineup
5. begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job
   • Take up a position
   • start a new job
6. begin or set in motion
   • I start at eight in the morning
   • Ready, set, go!
7. get going or set in motion
   • We simply could not start the engine
   • start up the computer
8. move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm
   • She startled when I walked into the room
9. 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
10. bring into being
    • He initiated a new program
    • Start a foundation
11. 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
12. leave
    • The family took off for Florida
13. 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
14. 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
    • Let's get down to work now