starter

/ˈstɑrtər/
noun
  1. The first part of a meal, served before the main course; an appetizer.
    • For starters, she chose a small salad.
    • The restaurant offers a variety of starters, including soup and spring rolls.
    • We ordered the garlic bread as a starter.
  2. A person or thing that begins something, especially a participant in the first part of a race or competition.
    • He was a late starter in learning the piano.
    • There were eight starters in the 100-meter dash.
    • The race had only three starters due to the bad weather.
  3. A device used to start an engine, especially in a car.
    • He replaced the old starter with a new one.
    • The mechanic checked the starter and the battery.
    • The car wouldn't start because the starter was broken.
  4. A small amount of a substance used to begin a process, such as a culture for making yogurt or sourdough bread.
    • She kept a sourdough starter in the fridge.
    • You need a yogurt starter to make homemade yogurt.
    • The baker fed the starter with flour and water every day.
Antonyms
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