Etymology tree
Proto-West Germanic *sturtijan
Old English styrtan
Middle English stertendeverb.
Middle English stert
English start
From Middle English stert, from the verb sterten (“to start, startle”). See below.
Meanings
The beginning of an activity.
The movie was entertaining from start to finish.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, / Straining upon the start. 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
A sudden involuntary movement.
He woke with a start.
Nature does nothing by starts and leaps, or in a hurry. 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
The sight of his scared face, his starts and pallors and sudden harkenings, unstrung me […] 1885, Robert Louis Stevenson, Olalla:
The beginning point of a race, a board game, etc.
Captured pieces are returned to the start of the board.
An appearance in a sports game, horserace, etc., from the beginning of the event.
Wilshere, who made his first start for England in the midweek friendly win over Denmark, raced into the penalty area and chose to cross rather than shoot - one of the very few poor selections he made in the match. 2011 February 12, Ian Hughes, “Arsenal 2 - 0 Wolverhampton”, in BBC:
Jones has been a substitute before, but made his first start for the team last Sunday.
A young plant germinated in a pot to be transplanted later.
You generally see nursery starts at garden centres in mid to late spring. Small annual plants are generally sold in four-packs or larger packs, with each cell holding a single young plant. 2009, Liz Primeau, Steven A. Frowine, Gardening Basics For Canadians For Dummies:
An initial advantage over somebody else; a head start.
to get, or have, the start
The man has got two clear days' start and the chances are nine to one against catching him. 1914, Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados:
(UK, archaic, slang) A happening or proceeding.
“It's a rum start, old John Madingley's coming down to Tunnleton,” said Grafton, one evening in the smoking-room; […] 1887, Hawley Smart, A False Start, volume 2, page 69:
(alt-of) Alternative letter-case form of Start (“a typical button for video games, originally used to start a game, now also often to pause or choose an option”)
kk сөре (beginning point of a race) · ru нача́ло (beginning of an activity) · mi tīmatanga (beginning point of a race) · pl start (beginning point of a race) · it partenza (beginning of an activity) · lus tìr (beginning of an activity) · mi ōrokotīmatanga (beginning of an activity) · ckb سەرەتا (beginning of an activity) · it partenza (beginning point of a race) · sq fillimi (beginning of an activity) · sv ryck (sudden involuntary movement) · sq nisja (beginning of an activity) · ar نَجْمَة (beginning of an activity) · sk začiatok (beginning of an activity) · mi ohorere (sudden involuntary movement) · sh трзај (sudden involuntary movement) · pl początek (beginning of an activity) · el αρχή (beginning of an activity) · he התחלה (beginning of an activity) · pdc Aabeginn (beginning of an activity) · es principio (beginning of an activity) · tr başlangıç (beginning of an activity) · es salida (beginning point of a race) · ru старт (beginning of an activity) · bn আগাজ (beginning of an activity) · it avvio (beginning point of a race) · da start (beginning point of a race) · ko 움찔함 (sudden involuntary movement) · eo eko (beginning of an activity) · hy սկիզբ (beginning of an activity) · pt partida (beginning point of a race) · fi startti (beginning of an activity) · cs start (beginning point of a race) · el εκκίνηση (beginning point of a race) · sh pokret (sudden involuntary movement) · ko 흠칫함 (sudden involuntary movement) · ko 시작 (beginning of an activity) · ja 始点 (beginning point of a race) · es comienzo (beginning of an activity) · hu rándulás (sudden involuntary movement) · gd clisgeadh (sudden involuntary movement) · eo komenco (beginning of an activity) · hu rajt (beginning point of a race) · sh trzaj (sudden involuntary movement) · fi alku (beginning of an activity) · pt sobressalto (sudden involuntary movement) · it sussulto (sudden involuntary movement) · hu kezdet (beginning of an activity) · ja 開始地点 (beginning point of a race) · eo ekmovo (sudden involuntary movement) · tr start (beginning point of a race) · ht kòmansman (beginning of an activity) · de Start (beginning point of a race) · is upphaf (beginning point of a race) · ko 처음 (beginning of an activity) · as আৰম্ভ (beginning of an activity) · mnc ᡶᡠᡴᠵᡳᠨ (beginning of an activity) · oc subresaut (sudden involuntary movement) · bg нача́ло (beginning of an activity) · ro început (beginning of an activity) · da ryk (sudden involuntary movement) · ja 初め (beginning of an activity) · izh alutos (beginning of an activity) · hu összerezzenés (sudden involuntary movement) · mi ohotata (sudden involuntary movement) · mi tamaki (sudden involuntary movement) · smn algâ (beginning of an activity) · es respingo (sudden involuntary movement) · tl simula (beginning of an activity) · el αφετηρία (beginning point of a race) · ja 出だし (beginning of an activity) · grc ἀρχή (beginning of an activity) · sh почетак (beginning of an activity) · hu összerándulás (sudden involuntary movement) · fi säpsähdys (sudden involuntary movement) · it sobbalzo (sudden involuntary movement) · la exordium (beginning of an activity) · de Ruck (sudden involuntary movement) · fr départ (beginning point of a race) · sh полазиште (beginning point of a race) · got 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐍃𐍄𐍉𐌳𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (beginning of an activity) · it inizio (beginning of an activity) · pt princípio (beginning of an activity) · oc ressaut (sudden involuntary movement) · sa आद (beginning of an activity) · te ప్రారంభము (beginning of an activity) · fr début (beginning of an activity) · hy մեկնարկ (beginning point of a race) · io komenco (beginning of an activity) · is viðbragð (sudden involuntary movement) · bg старт (beginning point of a race) · mi ōrokotīmatanga (beginning point of a race) · la orīgō (beginning of an activity) · uk поча́ток (beginning of an activity) · kk бас (beginning of an activity) · te ఆరంభము (beginning of an activity) · gd toiseach (beginning of an activity) · got 𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌹𐍃𐍄𐌹 (beginning of an activity) · lus ṭan (beginning of an activity) · sa आरम्भ (beginning of an activity) · is byrjun (beginning of an activity) · nl begin (beginning of an activity) · be пача́так (beginning of an activity) · tl simula (beginning point of a race) · cmn 起点 (beginning point of a race) · pt largada (beginning point of a race) · fo byrjan (beginning of an activity) · bg титуляр (appearance in a sports game from the beginning of the match) · is upphaf (beginning of an activity) · sh почетак (beginning point of a race) · lus bul (beginning of an activity) · sh početak (beginning point of a race) · fa آغاز (beginning of an activity) · nl aanvang (beginning of an activity) · mi oho (sudden involuntary movement) · nl start (beginning of an activity) · fi käynnistys (beginning of an activity) · bg трепване (sudden involuntary movement) · sv start (beginning of an activity) · fi aloituskokoonpano (appearance in a sports game from the beginning of the match) · da begyndelse (beginning of an activity) · vi bắt đầu (beginning of an activity) · ja 開始 (beginning of an activity) · pl zaczątek (beginning of an activity) · bn ইবতিদা (beginning of an activity) · cs začátek (beginning of an activity) · pt começo (beginning of an activity) · ar اِبْتِدَاء (beginning of an activity) · scn scantazzu (sudden involuntary movement) · ka დასაწყისი (beginning of an activity) · ka სტარტი (beginning point of a race) · ja スタート (beginning of an activity) · de Anfang (beginning of an activity) · ga geit (sudden involuntary movement) · de Beginn (beginning of an activity) · es inicio (beginning of an activity) · hu start (beginning point of a race) · bg сепване (sudden involuntary movement) · sh polazište (beginning point of a race) · sq nisja (beginning point of a race) · srn bigin (beginning of an activity) · pt início (beginning of an activity) · he התחלה (beginning point of a race) · bn শুরু (beginning of an activity) · sh početak (beginning of an activity) · mi kahuki (sudden involuntary movement) · da spjæt (sudden involuntary movement) · nb opphav (beginning point of a race) · gd leum (sudden involuntary movement) · ja スタート地点 (beginning point of a race) · scn partenza (beginning point of a race) · ar نَجْمَة (beginning point of a race) · ta ஆரம்பம் (beginning of an activity) · nl startlijn (beginning point of a race) · mk по́четок (beginning of an activity) · bg разсад (horticulture: young plant germinated in a pot to be transplanted later) · fi hätkähdys (sudden involuntary movement) · sl začetek (beginning of an activity) · fr départ (beginning of an activity) · mi tīmatanga (beginning of an activity) · cy cychwyn (beginning of an activity) · fi lähtö (beginning point of a race) · cmn 開始 /开始 (beginning of an activity) · scn inizziu (beginning of an activity) · izh alku (beginning of an activity) · nb rykk (sudden involuntary movement) · fi taimi (horticulture: young plant germinated in a pot to be transplanted later) · fi aloitus (beginning of an activity) · sh покрет (sudden involuntary movement) · it avvio (beginning of an activity) · ru старт (beginning point of a race) · ta தொடக்கம் (beginning of an activity) · lus ṭanna (beginning of an activity) · fi istukas (horticulture: young plant germinated in a pot to be transplanted later) · el ξεκίνημα (beginning of an activity) · ru рыво́к (sudden involuntary movement)
From Middle English sterten (“to leap up suddenly, rush out”), from Old English styrtan (“to leap up, start”), from Proto-West Germanic *sturtijan (“to startle, move, set in motion”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ter- (“to be stiff”). Cognate with Old Frisian stirta (“to fall down, tumble”), Middle Dutch sterten (“to rush, fall, collapse”) (Dutch storten), Old High German sturzen (“to hurl, plunge, turn upside down”) (German stürzen), Old High German sterzan (“to be stiff, protrude”). More at stare.
From Middle English sterten (“to leap up suddenly, rush out”), from Old English styrtan (“to leap up, start”), from Proto-West Germanic *sturtijan (“to startle, move, set in motion”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ter- (“to be stiff”). Cognate with Old Frisian stirta (“to fall down, tumble”), Middle Dutch sterten (“to rush, fall, collapse”) (Dutch storten), Old High German sturzen (“to hurl, plunge, turn upside down”) (German stürzen), Old High German sterzan (“to be stiff, protrude”). More at stare.
Meanings
(ergative) To begin, commence, initiate. ▸ To set in motion.
to start a stream of water; to start a rumour; to start a business
In the autumn there was a row at some cement works about the unskilled labour men. A union had just been started for them and all but a few joined. One of these blacklegs was laid for by a picket and knocked out of time. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
I was some years ago engaged in conversation with a fashionable French Abbe, upon a subject which the people of that kingdom love to start in discourse. April 2, 1716, Joseph Addison, Freeholder No. 30
(ergative) To begin, commence, initiate. ▸ To begin.
The rain started at 9:00.
Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer ‘cottage’ […].” So I started to back away again into the bushes. But I hadn't backed more'n a couple of yards when I see something so amazing that I couldn't help scooching down behind the bayberries and looking at it. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
The President fired the gun to start the footrace.
Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting. 2013 July 19, Peter Wilby, “Finland spreads word on schools”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 30:
(ergative) To begin, commence, initiate. ▸ To ready the operation of a vehicle or machine.
to start the engine
(ergative) To begin, commence, initiate. ▸ To put or raise (a question, an objection); to put forward (a subject for discussion).
(ergative) To begin, commence, initiate. ▸ To bring onto being or into view; to originate; to invent.
Sensual men agree in the pursuit of every pleasure they can start. 1674, William Temple, letter to The Countess of Essex:
(intransitive) To have its origin (at), begin.
The speed limit is 50 km/h, starting at the edge of town.
The blue line starts one foot away from the wall.
(intransitive) To move suddenly, from a previous state of rest; to startle. ▸ To jerk, jump up, flinch, or draw back in surprise.
Keep your soul to the work when it is ready to start aside. 1725, Isaac Watts, Logick: Or, The Right Use of Reason in the Enquiry after Truth, […], 2nd edition, London: […] John Clark and Richard Hett, […], Emanuel Matthews, […], and Richard Ford, […], published 1726, →OCLC:
Suddenly his eye fell on the screen that he had placed in front of the portrait, and he started. 1891, Oscar Wilde, chapter VIII, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, London; New York, N.Y.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC, page 139:
I could a Tale vnfold, vvhoſe lighteſt vvord
VVould harrovv vp thy ſoule, freeze thy young blood,
Make thy tvvo eyes like Starres, ſtart from their Spheres,
Thy knotty and combined locks to part,
And each particular haire to ſtand an end,
Like Quilles vpon the fretfull Porpentine: […] c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 257, column 2:
Physical poison would make them start from arsenicked bread; shall not the moral poison which is in it, make them start more promptly still from slave produce? 1836, Elizur Wright, Quarterly Anti-slavery Magazine, volume 2, page 162:
[...] The tempest's mocking elf
Points to the shipman thus the unseen shelf
He strikes on, only when the timbers start. 1855, Robert Browning, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, section XXXI:
I start as from some dreadful dream. 1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
But if he start,
It is the flesh of a corrupted heart. c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:
(intransitive) To move suddenly, from a previous state of rest; to startle. ▸ To awaken suddenly.
I started from my sleep with horror; a cold dew covered my forehead, my teeth chattered, and every limb became convulsed; [...] 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter IV, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume I, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 100:
(transitive) To move suddenly, from a previous state of rest; to startle. ▸ To disturb and set in motion; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee.
The hounds started a fox.
Upon malicious bravery dost thou come
To start my quiet? c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
(ergative, of an object) To move suddenly, from a previous state of rest; to startle. ▸ To come loose, to break free of a firmly set position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate.
One, by a fall in wrestling, started the end of the clavicle from the sternon. 1676, Richard Wiseman, Severall Chirurgicall Treatises, London: […] E. Flesher and J. Macock, for R[ichard] Royston […], and B[enjamin] Took, […], →OCLC:
the storm started the bolts in the vessel
[...] we could, with the greateſt eaſe, as well as clearneſs, ſee all objects, (ourſelves unſeen) only by applying our eyes cloſe to the crevice, where the moulding of a pannel had warp'd, or ſtarted a little on the other ſide. 1749, [John Cleland], “[Letter the First]”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], volume I, London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC, page 76:
(transitive) To put into play.
“Look at Portu,” Michel insisted, “he scores goals and I never start him. He says: ‘You’re sinking me, but OK, I’ll just go out and score again.’” 2024 May 6, Sid Lowe, “Portu’s brilliant burst seals Girona’s top-four fairytale in the perfect way”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
The charge against Zagallo then is not so much that he started Ronaldo, but that when it should surely have been clear that the player was in no fit state to take part he kept him on. 2010, Brian Glanville, The Story of the World Cup: The Essential Companion to South Africa 2010, London: Faber and Faber, →ISBN, page 361:
(transitive) To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from.
to start a water cask
(euphemistic, intransitive) To begin one's menstrual cycle.
Have you started yet?
(intransitive, obsolete, possibly) To begin a journey; to set forth.
I GET letters from you far too seldom considering that you can much more easily find people starting for Rome than I to Athens: considering, too, that you are more certain of my being at Rome than I of your being at Athens. 1920, Cicero, translated by Evelyn Shirley Shuckburgh, The Letters of Cicero: The Whole Extant Correspondence in Chronological Order, volume 1 (hardcover), London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., page 5:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
started
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
started
Tense=Past
lexicographic
sta't
alternative, pronunciation-spelling
lexicographic
starting
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
staht
alternative, pronunciation-spelling
lexicographic
starts
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
Antonyms
stop (antonym(s) of “to begin”; to stop) · finish (antonym(s) of “to begin”; to finish) · end (antonym(s) of “to begin”) · cease (antonym(s) of “to begin”) · complete (antonym(s) of “to begin”) · conclude (antonym(s) of “to begin”)
yue 開始 /开始 (to begin) · scn accuminzari (to begin) · scn abbaguttiri (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · vec scuminsiar (to begin) · fr débuter (of an activity, to begin) · la incipiō (to begin) · izh noissa (to begin) · az işə salmaq (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · oc començar (to begin) · eo konsterniĝe resalti (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · ja 開始する (to begin) · eo eki (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · hu megkezdődik (to have its origin (at), begin) · bg отцепя се (to break away, to come loose) · ca començar (to have its origin (at), begin) · de beginnen (of an activity, to begin) · fi käynnistyä (of an activity, to begin) · sat ᱮᱦᱳᱵ (to begin) · th เริ่ม (to begin) · fi aloittaa (of an activity, to begin) · af aangaan (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · fi alkaa (to begin) · bg запо́чвам (to begin) · hu kezd (to begin) · frr öönfange (to begin) · fro comencier (to set in motion) · eo ekmiri (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · sh pokrenuti (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · de starten (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · fr débuter (to begin) · nl aanvangen (of an activity, to begin) · pl zacząć (to begin) · uz boshlamoq (to begin) · ja 始まる (of an activity, to begin) · af aangaan (to begin) · fur comença (to begin) · grc ἄρχομαι (to begin) · ru нача́ться (to begin) · rup ãnchisescu (to begin) · bg пускам (to set in motion) · ru начина́ть (to begin) · pt começar (to set in motion) · sh начнути (to begin) · fi säpsähtää (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · scn attaccari (of an activity, to begin) · mi ohorere (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · uk почина́ти (to begin) · ca començar (to set in motion) · sh zapustiti (to set in motion) · nl starten (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · da komme løs (to break away, to come loose) · ary بدا (to begin) · be пачына́ць (to begin) · nrf c'menchi (of an activity, to begin) · de anfangen (to set in motion) · sq fillo (to begin) · scn allintari (to break away, to come loose) · be пачына́цца (to begin) · izh täytyä (to begin) · scn accuminciari (to begin) · bg започна (to have its origin (at), begin) · it iniziare (to begin) · mr सुरू करणे (to begin) · de zusammenzucken (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · sv starta (to set in motion) · ru начина́ться (to begin) · ca començar (to begin) · la ordior (to begin) · fr commencer (to begin) · lus ṭan (to set in motion) · he התחיל (to set in motion) · th ตั้งต้น (to begin) · gd tòisich (to begin) · fr commencer (of an activity, to begin) · ru запуска́ть (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · ja 始まる (to begin) · sh navesti (to set in motion) · mi kōtiri (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · sq ndez (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · fi herätä äkisti (to awaken suddenly) · cs začínat (to begin) · pl rozpocząć (of an activity, to begin) · eo eki (to set in motion) · scn aḍḍumari (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · syl ꠡꠥꠞꠥ ꠇꠞꠣ (to begin) · ru нача́ть (to begin) · ta துவங்கு (to begin) · ajp بلّش (to begin) · de gründen (to set in motion) · da starte (to set in motion) · fa شروع کردن (to begin) · scn fari pàrtiri (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · de zusammenfahren (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · de streuen (rumour) (to set in motion) · sh започети (to begin) · bg стартирам (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · cmn 開始 /开始 (to begin) · sh započeti (of an activity, to begin) · izh lähtiä (to begin) · scn ncignari (of an activity, to begin) · mi hiki (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · sh početi (of an activity, to begin) · de anfangen (to begin) · ckb دەسپێکردن (to begin) · eo starti (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · fi irrota (to break away, to come loose) · bn শুরু করা (to begin) · sv rycka till (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · uk поча́ти (to begin) · la initiō (to begin) · ajp بدا (to begin) · eo eki (of an activity, to begin) · shn တႄႇ (to begin) · is byrja (to begin) · pt iniciar (to begin) · ga geit (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · es arrancar (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · da rykke til (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · hu elkezdődik (to have its origin (at), begin) · got 𐌳𐌿𐍃𐍄𐍉𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to begin) · sl začeti (to begin) · it cominciare (to begin) · fr entamer (to begin) · cmn 胡鬧 /胡闹 (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · scn fari pàrtiri (to set in motion) · pl poderwać się (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · hu elkezd (of an activity, to begin) · hu megkezd (to begin) · he פצח (of an activity, to begin) · pl uruchomić (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · bg по́чвам (to begin) · sh по̀че̄ти (to begin) · it creare (of an activity, to begin) · fi käynnistää (to set in motion) · nl beginnen (to begin) · ang onġinnan (to begin) · de sich lösen (to break away, to come loose) · sv börja (to begin) · scn accuminciari (of an activity, to begin) · ro începe (to begin) · ta ஆரம்பி (to begin) · nrf c'menchi (to begin) · ja びくっとする (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · hy սկսվել (of an activity, to begin) · ar بَدَأَ (to begin) · alt баштаар (to begin) · hi शुरू करना (to begin) · scn attaccari (to begin) · no begynne (to begin) · bg започна се (to have its origin (at), begin) · tl magsimula (to begin) · pl zapalić (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · pt sobressaltar (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · apc بلّش (to begin) · hu beindít (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · sw -anza (to begin) · cs začít (to begin) · oj maad- (to begin) · bg подхващам (to put or raise a question or objection, to put forward) · ru начина́ться (of an activity, to begin) · pl zerwać się (z łóżka) (to awaken suddenly) · uk поча́тися (to begin) · ht komanse (to begin) · gd leum (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · pt abrir (to set in motion) · nl opschrikken (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · is hrökkva við (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · scn attaccari (to set in motion) · de auffahren (to awaken suddenly) · fi esittää (to put or raise a question or objection, to put forward) · eo eki (to begin) · fi aloittaa (to set in motion) · rup ahurhescu (to begin) · mi ohotata (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · ne शुरू गर्नु (to begin) · hu rándul (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · ja 始動する (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · mi kohema (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · no starte (to set in motion) · ru запусти́ть (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · it avviare (of an activity, to begin) · gl iniciar (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · sh pòčēti (to begin) · gl arrancar (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · ms menjalankan (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · bg подхвана (to put or raise a question or objection, to put forward) · he התחיל (of an activity, to begin) · be пача́цца (to begin) · sh započeti (to begin) · bg сепвам се (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · fi aloittaa (to begin) · bg отцепвам се (to break away, to come loose) · hu megrezzen (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · scn risautari (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · bg започвам (of an activity, to begin) · bg трепвам (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · ast entamar (to begin) · sh načnuti (to begin) · hy սկսել (to begin) · mi tīmata (to begin) · uk почина́тися (to begin) · fi havahtua (to awaken suddenly) · nap accumencià (to set in motion) · hu kezd (of an activity, to begin) · fro comencier (of an activity, to begin) · pt estartar (to begin) · pt começar (of an activity, to begin) · de starten (to set in motion) · ru запуска́ть (to set in motion) · nl starten (to set in motion) · da vågne med et sæt (to awaken suddenly) · bg започвам (to have its origin (at), begin) · sh trznuti (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · ca engegar (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · ka დაწყება (to begin) · nl aanvangen (to begin) · vi bắt đầu (to begin) · hu kezdődik (to have its origin (at), begin) · nl beginnen (to put or raise a question or objection, to put forward) · es rancar (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · sl zagnati (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · bg започвам се (to have its origin (at), begin) · rup ntsep (to begin) · chr ᎠᏓᎴᏂᎭ (to begin) · sq Nis (to begin) · pt começar (to begin) · ro începe (to set in motion) · he התחיל (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · nl beginnen (of an activity, to begin) · izh ruveta (to begin) · pl zacząć (of an activity, to begin) · ky баштоо (to begin) · rup apãrnjescu (to begin) · izh aluttaa (to begin) · fa آغاز کردن (to begin) · be пача́ць (to begin) · sv sätta igång (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · da løsrive sig (to break away, to come loose) · hu elkezd (to begin) · scn pàrtiri (of an activity, to begin) · sk začínať (to begin) · izh alkaa (to begin) · eo komenci (of an activity, to begin) · ga cuir tús le (to begin) · dlm nizuor (to begin) · it avviare (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · fr mettre en route (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · ja 始める (to begin) · as আৰম্ভ কৰ (to begin) · ta கிளப்பு (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · bg по́чна (to begin) · nrf stèrter (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · tr başlamak (to begin) · hu összerándul (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · az başlamaq (to begin) · fro comencier (to begin) · sh trgnuti (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · ru нача́ться (of an activity, to begin) · ru дёргаться (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · de starten (to begin) · de anlassen (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · ru дёрнуться (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · is hrökkva upp (to awaken suddenly) · fo hveppa (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · fr démarrer (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · pl zapuścić (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · ja 飛び起きる (to awaken suddenly) · hu indít (to set in motion) · fi alkaa (of an activity, to begin) · sh pustiti (to set in motion) · fa آغازیدن (to begin) · cic malichi (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · sv starta (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · scn pàrtiri (to have its origin (at), begin) · fi startata (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · ta தொடங்கு (to begin) · kix yô (to begin) · fi laskea liikkeelle (to set in motion) · pl ruszyć (to set in motion) · hu felriad (to awaken suddenly) · gl comezar (to set in motion) · srn bigin (to begin) · el ξεκινώ (to begin) · ru вздрагивать (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · mi hoto (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · ru стартова́ть (of an activity, to begin) · de beginnen (to begin) · cmn 启动 (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · sv börja (of an activity, to begin) · nl starten (to begin) · my စ (to begin) · ru запусти́ть (to set in motion) · izh käyvvä (to begin) · he התחיל (to begin) · bn শুরু করা (to set in motion) · ko 시작하다 (to begin) · gl comezar (to begin) · ca començar (of an activity, to begin) · mhr тӱҥалаш (to begin) · sh начети (to begin) · hu összerezzen (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · fr commencer (to set in motion) · scn nnartari (of an activity, to begin) · mi ohomauri (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · mi timata (to set in motion) · fi hätkähtää (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · kix yōlòuh (to begin) · id menjalankan (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · scn risautari (to awaken suddenly) · nl starten (of an activity, to begin) · pt ligar (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · fi käynnistää (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · sk začať (to begin) · af aangaan (of an activity, to begin) · th เริ่มต้น (to begin) · hu elindít (to set in motion) · fr sursauter (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · bg стряскам се (to awaken suddenly) · scn attaccari (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · ro porni (to initiate operation of a vehicle or machine) · sh načeti (to begin) · ckb دەسپێکردن (of an activity, to begin) · eo ekkonsterniĝi (to jerk suddenly in surprise) · az işə salmaq (to set in motion) · de aufschrecken (to awaken suddenly) · fi säpsähtää (to awaken suddenly)
From Middle English stert, start (“tail, handle, projection”), from Old English steort (“tail”), from Proto-West Germanic *stert, from Proto-Germanic *stertaz (“tail”). Cognate with Scots start, stairt (“side post, shaft, upright post”), Dutch staart (“tail”), German Sterz (“tail, handle”), Danish stjert (“tail of a bird”), Faroese stertur (“tail”), Icelandic stertur (“short horse tail”), Norn skjårt (“tail”), sterti (“tail of a large fish”), stjårt (“tail of a large fish”), Norwegian stjert (“tail of a bird”), Swedish stjärt (“tail, arse”).
Meanings
A projection or protrusion; that which pokes out.
The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water wheel bucket.
The fall of water is 6 feet, and the radius of the curve is 8 feet, from the centre of the water-wheel to the extreme point of the start. 1845, Captain R.E. Crawley, Description of a Water-Course, Wharf, and Water-Wheel, erected at Waltham Abbey, Essex […] :
The arm, or level, of a gin, drawn around by a horse.
... horses, a number of men who seemed to acquire strength as the necessity for it increased, applied their shoulders to the starts, or shafts of the gin, and worked it with extraordinary speed. By twelve o'clock, thirty-two[…] 1834, William Andrus Alcott, Samuel Griswold Goodrich, Parley's Magazine, page 364:
[…] so that the horse may not expend his force in an oblique direction, but get a fair pull on the "starts." 1854, Glynn, Rudimentary Treatise on the Construction of Cranes and Machinery for Raising Heavy Bodies, page 13:
With iron posts it is of course impossible to mortise in the starts and they were bolted between two cast-iron plates instead. The inclined stays were bolted to a[…] 1973, Industrial Archaeology, page 254:
Col.—The age has no sense—the people are start mad—as mad as a March mare. We should have fine times, indeed if our laws did'nt compel the poor people to protect the property of the rich. 1828 August 22, “Militia System”, in The New England Farmer, volume VII, Boston, M.A.: John B. Russell, published 1829, page 40, column 1: