WordGarden.iostarter
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /stˈɑːtə/
US
- /ˈstɑrtər/
Meanings
Noun
a person or thing that begins something or gets it going
a player who begins a game in the starting lineup
a small first course served before the main part of a meal
More meaningsFewer meanings
a device or motor that starts an engine
a fermented mixture used to begin or maintain bread or other cultured food
Adjective
basic or meant for beginners or as a first purchase or first step
Beyond the definition
A "starter" is something or someone that begins things. It can be the player who begins a game, the small motor that helps start a car engine, or the first small dish served before the main meal. In many cases, the word points to the first part of something or to the thing that helps it begin. A "starter pistol" begins a race, and a "starter kit" gives a beginner the basic things they need.
The word also appears in common expressions. A "self-starter" is a person who begins work without being pushed. In baking, a "starter" is a live mixture used to help bread rise.
The word "starter" is very flexible, but the main idea is usually the same: it refers to the person, thing, or part that begins something. In a car, a "starter" is the motor that helps the engine begin running. In food, it often means the first course of a meal, especially a small dish served before the main one. In baking, a sourdough "starter" is the living mixture that helps bread rise.
The word is also common in sports and daily life. A player who begins the game, rather than waiting on the bench, is a "starter." In racing, the person who starts the event may also be called a "starter." A "starter pistol" signals the beginning of a race, and a "starter log" helps a fire begin more easily.
It can also describe things meant for beginners or people who begin on their own. A "starter kit" contains the basic items needed to begin a new activity, and a "starter home" is often the first home a person buys. A "self-starter" is someone who begins tasks without needing much encouragement. Across these uses, "starter" usually points to a first step, a beginning role, or something that helps another process get underway.
Examples
- 1
Restaurant
We ordered garlic mushrooms as a starter.
- 2
Team lineup
She’s been a regular starter for the team all season.
- Domaina starter
a player who begins the game
- 3
Car repair
The car wouldn’t start this morning, so the mechanic checked the starter.
- 4
Bread baking
Keep the sourdough starter in the fridge if you’re not baking this week.
- Phrasesourdough starter
a mixture used to make bread
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
First point
For starters, we need to decide how much we can spend.
- Phrasefor starters
as a first point; to begin with
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- starternounverb
Forms
- starterspluralnounverb