starter

Everyday

1. (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ) A small dish eaten as the first part of a meal; in the US called an appetizer. tree →
2. A person who starts a race, or a person or team that begins a game (not a substitute). tree →
3. A device that starts an engine. tree →
4. «For starters» (informal): to begin with; first of all. tree →
5. Something to start with: a starter pack, a conversation starter, a sourdough starter. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life restaurants serve a starter, a main course and a dessert. In maths problems a three-course meal adds the prices. In sport the starter fires the gun; starters play from the beginning. In lessons a «starter» is the short warm-up activity at the start.

Examples

• For a starter I'll have the tomato soup. tree →
• The starter costs $5, the main $12 and the pudding $4 — $21 in all. tree →
• The starter fired the gun and the race began. tree →
• He's a starter now, not a sub. tree →
• For starters, your room is a mess. tree →
• The car's starter is broken, so it won't start. tree →
• Our maths starter today was a times-table quiz. tree →

Note

In the US «appetizer» is more common for the dish; in the UK «starter». «Non-starter»: an idea with no chance of working.