start

verb

1》 come or bring into being.

    ↘begin to do.

    ↘begin to move or travel.

    ↘begin to attend (a school, college, etc.) or engage in (an occupation).

2》 cause to happen.

    ↘begin to operate.

    ↘cause or enable to begin doing something.

    ↘signal (competitors) to begin a race.

3》 (start at) cost at least (a specified amount).

4》 give a small jump or jerking movement from surprise.

    ↘literary move or appear suddenly.

    ↘rouse (game) from its lair.

    ↘(of eyes) bulge.

5》 displace or be displaced by pressure or shrinkage.

noun

1》 the beginning of something.

    ↘an act of beginning.

2》 an advantage given at the beginning of a race.

3》 a sudden movement of surprise.

    ↘dated a surprising occurrence.

Phrases

for a start in the first place.

start something informal cause trouble.

to start with as the first thing to be taken into account.

Phrasal verbs

start in informal begin doing something.

↘(start in on) N. Amer. begin to do or deal with.

↘(start in on) N. Amer. attack verbally.

start off (or start someone/thing off) begin (or cause someone or something to begin) working, operating, etc.

start on

1》 begin to work on or deal with.

2》 informal begin to talk in a critical or hostile way to.

start over N. Amer. make a new beginning.

start out (or up) embark on a venture or undertaking.

Origin

OE styrtan 'to caper, leap', of Gmc origin.