starter

Universal Words noun 1 (especially BrE) (AmE usually appetizer) a small amount of food that is served before the main course of a meal: This dish serves 46 people as a starter. compareHORSD'OEUVRE 2 a person, horse, car, etc. that is in a race at the beginning: Only 8 of the 28 starters completed the course. compareNON-STARTER 3 a person who gives the signal for a race to start: the starter's flag / gun / pistol 4 a device used for starting the engine of a vehicle: the starter button / switch * a starter motor 5 a person who begins doing a particular activity in the way mentioned: He was a late starter in the theatre (= older than most people when they start). * a slow starter seealsoSELF-STARTER 6 (often used as an adjective) something that is intended to be used by sb who is starting to do sth: a starter home (= a small home for sb who is buying property for the first time) * a starter kit / pack IDIOMS for starters (spoken) used to emphasize the first of a list of reasons, opinions, etc., or to say what happens first: There are a number of problems-for starters, where is the money coming from? * The winners will be flown to Paris-and that's just for starters. under starters orders (of a runner, rider, etc.) waiting for a signal to start the race