starter

[stahr-ter]

start·er

[stahr-ter]
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.
EXPAND
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.
COLLAPSE
adjective
9.
constituting a basis or beginning: a starter set of dishes; a starter home.

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Starter is always a great word to know.
So is shell steak. Does it mean:
a porterhouse steak, choice cut of beef from between the prime ribs and the sirloin, with the fillet removed
a large shell of light, flaky pastry for filling with vegetable, fish, or meat mixtures, usually with a sauce
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
starter (ˈstɑːtə)
 
n
1.  Formerly called self-starter a device for starting an internal-combustion engine, usually consisting of a powerful electric motor that engages with the flywheel
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 chiefly (Austral), (NZ) an acceptable or practicable proposition, plan, idea, etc
6.  informal (Austral), (NZ) 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.  chiefly (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
 a.  (of horses in a race) awaiting the start signal
 b.  (of a person) eager or ready to begin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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