starter

A small dish served at the beginning of a meal, before the main dish.

• I had soup as a starter.
• Would you like a starter before your main course?
• We ordered two starters to share.

Similar words: appetizer, first course

Common phrases: have a starter, starter and main, starter of something

An electric motor that makes a car or another engine begin running.

• The starter is broken.
• The mechanic replaced the car’s starter.
• A weak battery may stop the starter from turning the engine.

Similar words: starter motor

Common phrases: starter motor, faulty starter, replace a starter

Something basic that you use or buy when beginning an activity or a new stage of life.

• This small house is a good starter.
• We bought a starter kit for painting.
• Their starter home had only one bedroom.

Common phrases: starter home, starter kit, good starter

Someone who begins an activity or makes it begin.

• The starter raised the flag.
• All runners waited for the starter’s signal.
• She was the starter of our community garden project.

Similar words: initiator

Common phrases: race starter, early starter, starter of something