n.

1. the beginning of anything
   
   • it was off to a good start
2. the time at which something is supposed to begin;
   beginning, commencement, first, outset, get-go, kickoff, starting time, showtime, offset
   
   • they got an early start
   • she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her
3. a turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning);
   starting
   
   • 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
4. a sudden involuntary movement;
   startle, jump
   
   • he awoke with a start
5. the act of starting something;
   beginning, commencement
   
   • he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations
6. a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game;
   starting line
7. a signal to begin (as in a race);
   starting signal
   
   • the starting signal was a green light
   • the runners awaited the start
8. advantage gained by an beginning early (as in a race);
   head start
   
   • with an hour's start he will be hard to catch

v.

1. take the first step or steps in carrying out an action;
   get down, begin, get, start out, set about, set out, commence
   
   • 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
2. set in motion, cause to start;
   begin, lead off, commence
   
   • The U.S. started a war in the Middle East
   • The Iraqis began hostilities
   • begin a new chapter in your life
3. leave;
   depart, part, start out, set forth, set off, set out, take off
   
   • The family took off for Florida
4. have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense;
   begin
   
   • The DMZ begins right over the hill
   • The second movement begins after the Allegro
   • Prices for these homes start at $250,000
5. bring into being;
   originate, initiate
   
   • He initiated a new program
   • Start a foundation
6. get off the ground;
   start up, embark on, commence
   
   • 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
7. move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm;
   startle, jump
   
   • She startled when I walked into the room
8. get going or set in motion;
   start up
   
   • We simply could not start the engine
   • start up the computer
9. begin or set in motion;
   go, get going
   
   • I start at eight in the morning
   • Ready, set, go!
10. begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job;
    take up
    
    • Take up a position
    • start a new job
11. play in the starting lineup
12. have a beginning characterized in some specified way;
    begin
    
    • The novel begins with a murder
    • My property begins with the three maple trees
    • Her day begins with a workout
    • The semester begins with a convocation ceremony
13. begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object;
    begin
    
    • begin a cigar
    • She started the soup while it was still hot
    • We started physics in 10th grade
14. bulge outward;
    protrude, pop, pop out, bulge, bulge out, bug out, come out
    
    • His eyes popped