start
     n 1: the beginning of anything; "it was off to a good start"
     2: the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got
        an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the
        man for her" [syn: {beginning}, {commencement}, {first}, {outset},
         {get-go}, {kickoff}, {starting time}, {showtime}, {offset}]
        [ant: {middle}, {end}]
     3: a turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning); "he got
        his start because one of the regular pitchers was in the
        hospital"; "his starting meant that the coach thought he
        was one of their best linemen" [syn: {starting}]
     4: a sudden involuntary movement; "he awoke with a start" [syn:
         {startle}, {jump}]
     5: the act of starting something; "he was responsible for the
        beginning of negotiations" [syn: {beginning}, {commencement}]
        [ant: {finish}]
     6: a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a
        game [syn: {starting line}]
     7: a signal to begin (as in a race); "the starting signal was a
        green light"; "the runners awaited the start" [syn: {starting
        signal}]
     8: advantage gained by an early start as in a race; "with an
        hour's start he will be hard to catch" [syn: {head start}]
     v 1: take the first step or steps in carrying out an action; "We
          began working at dawn"; "Who will start?"; "Get working
          as soon as the sun rises!"; "The first tourists began to
          arrive in Cambodia"; "He began early in the day"; "Let's
          get down to work now" [syn: {get down}, {begin}, {get},
          {start out}, {set about}, {set out}, {commence}] [ant: {end}]
     2: set in motion, cause to start; "The U.S. started a war in
        the Middle East"; "The Iraqis began hostilities"; "begin a
        new chapter in your life" [syn: {begin}, {lead off}, {commence}]
        [ant: {end}]
     3: leave; "The family took off for Florida" [syn: {depart}, {part},
         {start out}, {set forth}, {set off}, {set out}, {take off}]
     4: have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative
        sense; "The DMZ begins right over the hill"; "The second
        movement begins after the Allegro"; "Prices for these
        homes start at $250,000" [syn: {begin}] [ant: {end}]
     5: bring into being; "He initiated a new program"; "Start a
        foundation" [syn: {originate}, {initiate}]
     6: get off the ground; "Who started this company?"; "We
        embarked on an exciting enterprise"; "I start my day with
        a good breakfast"; "We began the new semester"; "The
        afternoon session begins at 4 PM"; "The blood shed started
        when the partisans launched a surprise attack" [syn: {start
        up}, {embark on}, {commence}]
     7: move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm; "She
        startled when I walked into the room" [syn: {startle}, {jump}]
     8: get going or set in motion; "We simply could not start the
        engine"; "start up the computer" [syn: {start up}] [ant: {stop}]
     9: begin or set in motion; "I start at eight in the morning";
        "Ready, set, go!" [syn: {go}, {get going}] [ant: {stop}]
     10: begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job;
         "Take up a position"; "start a new job" [syn: {take up}]
     11: play in the starting line-up
     12: have a beginning characterized in some specified way; "The
         novel begins with a murder"; "My property begins with the
         three maple trees"; "Her day begins with a work-out";
         "The semester begins with a convocation ceremony" [syn: {begin}]
     13: begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or
         inherent function of the direct object; "begin a cigar";
         "She started the soup while it was still hot"; "We
         started physics in 10th grade" [syn: {begin}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0