start

start1 [ start ] verb ***

▸ 1 begin to happen

▸ 2 begin to do something

▸ 3 begin a trip

▸ 4 be the limit of something

▸ 5 make something happen

▸ 6 make machine work

▸ 7 complain

▸ 8 jump with fright

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive to begin to happen or take place:

The World Championships start in two weeks.

The show has just started.

What time does school start in the morning?

start as: The riot started as a dispute between neighbors.

a ) used about a change, movement, process, etc.:

Cellular decay starts at the moment of death.

start doing/to do something: The leaves have started falling off the trees.

The traffic had started to move more freely now.

His confidence is starting to crumble.

It's starting to rain.

2. ) intransitive or transitive used for saying that someone begins to do something:

Please start when you are ready.

start by: Let's start by defining our terms.

start with: Yesterday the group started with drama games and improvisation.

Have you started the washing yet?

start doing/to do something: Everyone in the class started laughing.

I started to unpack my suitcase.

a ) intransitive to begin a new job, career, or period of education:

When do they want you to start?

Things were very different when I started in politics.

I started as an office boy and worked my way to the top.

start work: I start work on Monday.

start school/college: Children start school at age five.

b ) transitive to begin a period of time in a particular way:

start the day/week/year etc.: I usually start the day with a cup of coffee.

New York started the new century with a massive fireworks display.

c ) intransitive or transitive to be involved in something at the beginning:

Of the 36 horses that started the race, only four finished.

3. ) intransitive or transitive to begin a trip:

We started early enough but got caught in the London traffic.

It was time to start the long walk back home.

a ) intransitive to move in a particular direction:

The footsteps came again, then started up the stairs.

start for: Guy started for the door.

4. ) intransitive used for talking about the nearest end or edge of something:

The new houses start immediately beyond the bridge.

a ) start from/at used for talking about the lowest price or number:

Prices for cushion covers start from $30.

The house numbers start at 20.

5. ) transitive to cause something, or be the first person to do something:

Have you any idea who might have started the fire?

The police insist that they didn't start the confrontation.

Who wants to start the discussion?

Don't talk to me like that! You started it!

a ) start someone doing something to cause someone to do something:

What she said started me thinking.

b ) to bring a business, organization, or project into existence:

He decided to quit his job and start his own business.

6. ) transitive to switch on a machine or engine, especially a motor vehicle:

Scott started the engine and drove off.

a ) intransitive to be switched on and begin to work:

The car won't start.

7. ) intransitive INFORMAL to begin to complain or be angry about something:

It only takes the slightest thing to make her start.

Don't start!

8. ) intransitive to move suddenly because you are afraid or surprised by something:

The noise made him start.

back where you started

in the same place or situation where you were before, without making any progress:

After nearly 20 years in politics, he's back where he started.

get started

to begin doing something:

We couldn't wait to get started on the next job.

get someone started

1. ) to help or cause someone to begin doing something new:

It was his aunt who got him started in publishing.

2. ) INFORMAL to do or say something that makes someone talk for a long time about something:

It's better not to get him started on that subject.

to start with

1. ) as a beginning, or as the first thing:

Let's have a few easy questions to start with.

2. ) used for introducing the first or the most important point to support an argument or opinion:

Well, to start with, you don't have the right qualifications.

,start `off phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive to begin or cause something to begin:

Let's start off with a few questions from the audience.

We don't want to start off a riot.

start someone off on something: Mahoney gets himself killed and starts the police off on a hunt for the murderer.

2. ) intransitive to begin moving, or begin a trip:

He started off for the station at a brisk pace.

Starting off on a hill is really difficult.

3. ) transitive INFORMAL to make someone behave in a silly or emotional way about something:

Take care what you say or you'll start her off again.

`start on phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive INFORMAL to begin to criticize or complain about someone or something:

She started on about this dog barking in the street.

start on (at) someone: Don't start on me!

2. ) transitive start on something to begin working on something or dealing with something:

We could have breakfast before we start on the painting.

She ate all the cakes, then started on the chocolates.

,start `out phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) start out as to begin as one thing and develop into something else:

Some businesses start out as hobbies.

a ) used about someone's career:

He started out as a salesperson before turning to poetry.

2. ) to begin a trip:

We started out at five o'clock and got there at eight.

3. ) to intend to do or be something:

start out to do something: She didn't start out to be a model.

,start `over phrasal verb intransitive AMERICAN

to begin doing something again from the beginning:

She counted all the envelopes, put them back in the box, then started over.

a. to begin a new career or way of life:

I'm getting a little bit too old to start over.

,start `up phrasal verb intransitive or transitive

1. ) to bring a business, organization, or project into existence:

The agency helps over 1,000 companies start up each year.

She left the company last year to start up her own business.

2. ) to switch on a machine or engine, especially a motor vehicle:

She got into the car and started up the engine.

start

start 2 [ start ] noun ***

▸ 1 of period of time

▸ 2 the way someone begins something

▸ 3 of trip

▸ 4 in races and games

▸ 5 new opportunity

▸ 6 sudden movement

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count usually singular the beginning of a period of time:

start of: At the start of the final year, students begin to think about going to a university.

The revolutions of 1848 marked the start of a fascinating period in world history.

This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

from start to finish: The operation takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.

a ) the beginning of a movie, story, show, etc.:

Let's look at the start of the story in more detail.

Hurry up or we'll miss the start.

2. ) the way someone begins a period of time or activity:

start to: There's no better start to the day than a healthy breakfast.

have/make a great/fine/excellent etc. start: Hakkinen had a great start and was in second place by the first corner.

Jordan has made an excellent start to his new career.

a ) be/get off to a good/bad/flying/slow etc. start used for saying that something begins in a particular manner, especially a race or a competition:

She got off to a slow start in her election campaign.

The Games are off to a flying start with a new world record in the women's marathon.

3. ) the beginning of a trip:

After an early start, we were soon out of the city.

4. ) the moment when a race begins:

The start has been brought forward by 30 minutes.

a ) the place where a race begins:

The runners were all gathered at the start.

b ) MAINLY JOURNALISM an occasion when a sports player takes part in a game at the beginning

c ) an advantage you have in a race or competition, by beginning it in a better position than the other people: HEAD START:

The women runners are given a 50-meter start.

5. ) a big change or new opportunity in your life:

a new/fresh start: She traveled to Hong Kong, hoping for a new start.

give someone a start: The money she provided for him would give him a fresh start.

6. ) a sudden movement that you make because you are surprised or afraid:

give someone a start: A noise in the road gave us all a start.

wake/sit up with a start: She woke with a start from her dream.

for a start

used for introducing the first point in a series, especially in an argument:

They are too young, for a start.

make a start

to begin doing something:

make a start on: I'll make a start on the next pile of papers.

(right) from the start

immediately when something begins and all the time after that:

I hated her right from the start.

start in life

the advantages or disadvantages you have when you are very young:

We want to provide our child with the best start in life.

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