starter
A small dish you eat before the main part of a meal.
A small dish served at the beginning of a meal, before the main course, especially in restaurants.
A team player who plays at the beginning of a game, not on the bench.
A player who is chosen to be in the main lineup of a sports team and is on the field or court at the beginning of a game.
A person or thing that helps something start.
A person or thing that makes something begin or is used at the beginning of an activity to get it going.
The part of a car or machine that makes the engine begin to run.
A device that initiates the operation of an engine or machine, especially the electric motor that turns a vehicle's engine to start it.
A wet mix with yeast or bacteria that you keep and use to make bread or other foods rise and ferment.
A mixture of ingredients, often flour and water, containing live yeast or bacteria that is used to start fermentation in bread dough or other foods.
The person at a race who tells the runners or horses when to start.
An official in a race or competition whose job is to give the signal that the event should begin.
- Base: starter
- Plural: starters
a non-starter
1idea with no chance of success
An idea, plan, or person that will definitely not work or will not be accepted.
- Raising taxes that much is a non-starter for most voters.
- The proposal was a non-starter because it ignored basic safety rules.
- Hiring someone without a visa is a legal non-starter.
conversation starter
1question or thing that starts talk
Something, like a question or an interesting object, that helps people begin to talk to each other.
- Her unusual necklace was a great conversation starter at the event.
- The book includes conversation starter questions for shy people.
- Games can be useful conversation starters at a party.
for starters
1to begin with; first of all
Used to introduce the first point or reason when you will say more things after it.
- I am not going to the party. For starters, I have too much work to do.
- We should, for starters, agree on a clear budget.
- For starters, the rent is too high, and the flat is very small.
self-starter
1person who shows own initiative
Someone who can start work or projects alone, without being pushed or told what to do.
- The company is looking for a self-starter who can manage projects alone.
- She is a real self-starter and quickly built a strong client base.
- Being a self-starter is important if you want to work from home.
starter culture
1microbe mix used to ferment food
A mix of tiny living things, like bacteria or yeast, that you add to food to make it ferment, for example in yogurt or cheese.
- The yogurt starter culture must be kept at the right temperature.
- Cheesemakers carefully select the starter culture to control flavor.
- Without a healthy starter culture, the fermentation will fail.
starter home
1first small, affordable house
A small, not very expensive house that people usually buy as their first home.
- They bought a modest starter home in the suburbs.
- High prices mean many young couples cannot afford even a starter home.
- The new development includes starter homes aimed at first-time buyers.
starter motor
1electric motor that starts engine
The electric motor in a car that turns the engine so it can start running.
- A grinding sound can mean the starter motor is failing.
- The garage replaced the starter motor under warranty.
- Without a working starter motor, the car will not start at all.
starter pack
1basic or typical set of items
A basic set of things that you need when you begin something, or a humorous list that shows what is typical for a type of person or activity.
- The mobile company sells a cheap starter pack for new users.
- Online, people joke about a 'college student starter pack' with coffee, headphones, and a laptop.
- This gardening starter pack includes seeds, soil, and small pots.
starter pistol
1gun used to start a race
A special gun that makes a loud sound to tell runners or swimmers to begin a race.
- The crack of the starter pistol sent the runners down the track.
- Officials tested the starter pistol before the competition began.
- At the sound of the starter pistol, the swimmers dived into the pool.
starter kit
1basic set of things to begin
A simple set of things that gives you everything you need to begin doing something new.
- The knitting starter kit includes needles and yarn.
- She bought a painting starter kit with brushes, paints, and a canvas.
- A starter kit is perfect if you're new to painting.
- The store sells a starter kit for people who want to keep bees.
- I got a bread-making starter kit as a birthday present.