Definition of starter
1 : a person who initiates or sets going: such asa : an official who gives the signal to begin a raceb : one who dispatches vehicles
2a : one that engages in a competition; especially : a member of a starting lineupb : one that begins to engage in an activity or process
3 : one that causes something to begin operating: such asa : a device for starting an engine; especially : an electric motor used to start an internal combustion engineb : material containing microorganisms (such as yeast) used to induce a desired fermentation
4 : something that is the beginning of a process, activity, or series; especially : appetizer
for starters
: to begin with
Explore M-W
Examples of starter in a Sentence
The team is playing only five regular starters.
The car's starter needs to be replaced.
1622
First Known Use of starter
1622
starter
Definition of starter
: of, relating to, or being an item acquired with the expectation that a more elaborate or sophisticated model will be acquired in the future a starter home
1923
First Known Use of starter
1923
STARTER Defined for English Language Learners
starter
playDefinition of starter for English Language Learners
-
: a player, horse, etc., that is in a game or race at its beginning
-
: someone who gives the signal for a race to start
-
: a device that is used for starting an engine
starter
Definition of starter for English Language Learners
-
—used to describe something small or basic that you get when you are doing something for the first time
STARTER Defined for Kids
starter
playDefinition of starter for Students
: someone or something that starts something or causes something else to start a car's starter There were seven starters in the race.
Learn More about starter
-
See words that rhyme with starter Spanish Central: Translation of starter Nglish: Translation of starter for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of starter for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up starter? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!