start

Universal Words verb, noun verb doing sth 1 to begin doing sth: [VN] I start work at nine. * He's just started a new job. * I only started (= began to read) this book yesterday. * We need to start (= begin using) a new jar of coffee. * The kids start school next week. * [Vtoinf] It started to rain. * Mistakes were starting to creep in. * [V-ing] She started laughing. * [V] It's a long story. Where shall I start? * It's time you started on your homework. * Let's start by reviewing what we did last week. * Can you start (= a new job) on Monday? * [V-ADJ] The best professional musicians start young. happening 2 to start happening; to make sth start happening: [V] When does the class start? * Have you any idea where the rumour started? * [VN] Who started the fire? * Do you start the day with a good breakfast? * You're always trying to start an argument. * [VN-ing] The news started me thinking. machine / vehicle 3 when you start a machine or a vehicle or it starts, it begins to operate: [VN] Start the engines! * I can't get the car started. * [V] The car won't start. existing 4 ~ (sth) (up) to begin to exist; to make sth begin to exist: [V] There are a lot of small businesses starting up in that area. * [VN] They decided to start a catering business. * She started a yoga class at work. journey 5 [V] ~ (out) to begin a journey; to leave: What time are we starting tomorrow? going / walking 6 [V+adv./prep.] to begin to move in a particular direction: I started after her (= began to follow her) to tell her the news. * He started for the door, but I blocked his way. in particular way / from place / level 7 ~ (out / off) (sth) (as sth) to begin, or to begin sth such as a career, in a particular way that changed later: [V] She started as a secretary but ended up running the department. * The company started out with 30 employees. * [VN] He started life as a teacher before turning to journalism. 8 [V+adv./prep.] to begin from a particular place, amount or situation: The trail starts just outside the town. * Hotel prices start at ｣65 a night for a double room. * The evening started badly when the speaker failed to turn up. move suddenly 9 [V] to move suddenly and quickly because you are surprised or afraid SYNJUMP: The sudden noise made her start. -< BEGIN IDIOMS don't (you) start (spoken, informal) used to tell sb not to complain or be critical: Don't start! I told you I'd be late. you, he, she, etc. started it (spoken, informal) you, he, she, etc. began a fight or an argument: 'Stop fighting, you two!' 'He started it!' start something (informal) to cause trouble to start with 1 used when you are giving the first and most important reason for sth: To start with it's much too expensive... 2 at the beginning: The club had only six members to start with. * I'll have melon to start with. * She wasn't keen on the idea to start with. moreatALARMn., BALLn., FOOTn. PHRASALVERBS start back to begin to return somewhere: Isn't it time we started back? start off 1 to begin to move: The horse started off at a steady trot. 2 to begin happening; to begin doing sth: The discussion started off mildly enough. 3 to begin by doing or being sth: Let's start off with some gentle exercises. * We started off by introducing ourselves. * [+ADJ] The leaves start off green but turn red later. * [+-ing] I started off working quite hard, but it didn't last. start sb off (on sth) 1 [nopassive] to make sb begin doing sth: What started her off on that crazy idea? * Don't say anything to her-you'll start her off again (= make her get angry). * [+-ing] Kevin started us all off laughing. 2 to help sb begin doing sth: My mother started me off on the piano when I was three. * [+-ing] His father started him off farming. start on sb [nopassive] to attack sb physically or with words start on at sb (about sth)