| Noun | 1. | starter - an electric motor for starting an engineelectrical system - equipment in a motor vehicle that provides electricity to start the engine and ignite the fuel and operate the lights and windshield wiper and heater and air conditioner and radio kick start, kick starter - a starter (as on a motorcycle) that is activated with the foot and the weight of the body self-starter - an electric starting motor that automatically starts an internal-combustion engine | |
| 2. | starter - a culture containing yeast or bacteria that is used to start the process of fermentation or souring in making butter or cheese or dough; "to make sourdough you need a starter"culture - (bacteriology) the product of cultivating micro-organisms in a nutrient medium | |
| 3. | starter - a contestant who is in the game at the beginningcontestant - a person who participates in competitions | |
| 4. | starter - the official who signals the beginning of a race or competitionofficial - someone who administers the rules of a game or sport; "the golfer asked for an official who could give him a ruling" | |
| 5. | starter - any new participant in some activity | |
| 6. | starter - food or drink to stimulate the appetite (usually served before a meal or as the first course)course - part of a meal served at one time; "she prepared a three course meal" antipasto - a course of appetizers in an Italian meal apertif - an alcoholic drink that is taken as an appetizer before a meal canape - an appetizer consisting usually of a thin slice of bread or toast spread with caviar or cheese or other savory food cocktail - an appetizer served as a first course at a meal hors d'oeuvre - a dish served as an appetizer before the main meal crudites - raw vegetables cut into bite-sized strips and served with a dip | |
| 7. | starter - a hand tool consisting of a rotating shaft with parallel handle | |