starter

[stahr-ter] /ˈstɑr tər/
noun
1.
a person or thing that starts.
2.
a person who gives the signal to begin, as for a race, the running of a train, bus, elevator, etc.
3.
a device that starts an internal-combustion engine without a need for cranking by hand.
4.
a person or thing that starts in a race or contest:
Only five starters finished the race.
5.
a culture of bacteria used to start a particular fermentation, as in the manufacture of cheese, buttermilk, sour cream, etc.
6.
Cookery. sourdough (def 1).
7.
Slang. a shill, as at a gaming table in a casino.
8.
Cribbage. the card turned face up on the stack before the play.
adjective
9.
constituting a basis or beginning:
a starter set of dishes; a starter home.
Idioms
10.
for starters, Informal. as the first step or part; initially; first:
We will have soup for starters. For starters, he doesn't even know how to drive.
Origin
1530-40; start + -er1
British Dictionary definitions for for starters

starter

/ˈstɑːtə/
noun
1.
a device for starting an internal-combustion engine, usually consisting of a powerful electric motor that engages with the flywheel Formerly called self-starter
2.
(US) a person who organizes the timely departure of buses, trains, etc
3.
a person who supervises and signals the start of a race
4.
a competitor who starts in a race or contest
5.
(informal, mainly Austral & NZ) an acceptable or practicable proposition, plan, idea, etc
6.
(Austral & NZ, informal) a person who is willing to engage in a particular activity
7.
a culture of bacteria used to start fermentation, as in making cheese or yogurt
8.
(mainly Brit) the first course of a meal
9.
(modifier) designed to be used by a novice: a starter kit
10.
(slang) for starters, in the first place
11.
under starter's orders
  1. (of horses in a race) awaiting the start signal
  2. (of a person) eager or ready to begin
Word Origin and History for for starters

starter

n.

c.1400, stertour "instigator; one who starts," agent noun from start (v.). For starters "to begin with" is 1873, American English colloquial. Starter home is from 1976; starter set is from 1946, originally of china.

Slang definitions & phrases for for starters

for openers

adverb phrase

As a beginning; as a first move or suggestion: For openers, there's the approach via the Staten Island ferry/ So, try this for openers/ expensive, for starters

[1960s+; fr the openers, ''cards of a certain value,'' required in draw poker for beginning the betting]


for starters

modifier

To start or begin with (1873+),

Related Terms

for openers


Idioms and Phrases with for starters

for starters

see: for openers