verb To begin doing something or set something in motion.
- She started the meeting five minutes late.
- He started learning guitar last summer.
- The children start school in the morning, so we need an early night.
verb To get an engine or machine running.
- The car wouldn't start in the cold weather.
- It took a few tries to start the old lawnmower this morning.
- Turn the key and the engine should start straight away.
verb To jerk or flinch suddenly from surprise or fear.
- She started at the sudden knock on the door.
- The loud bang made the horse start and back away from the gate.
- I started when someone tapped me on the shoulder in the quiet library.
noun The beginning point of something, such as an activity, race, or period of time.
- We arrived at the start of the race just in time.
- It was a rocky start to the project, but things improved quickly.
- A good start in the morning usually makes the whole day go smoothly.
