Definition & Meaning of "starter"

Starter

NOUN

a hand tool consisting of a rotating shaft with parallel handle

a small dish served before the main course

What is a "starter"?

A starter is the first course of a meal, served before the main course. It is a smaller portion of food intended to stimulate the appetite and prepare diners for the main course to come. Starters can include a variety of dishes such as soups, salads, or small plates. They are often chosen to complement the flavors of the main course and provide a balanced and enjoyable dining experience.

an electric motor for starting an engine

a culture containing yeast or bacteria that is used to start the process of fermentation or souring in making butter or cheese or dough

any new participant in some activity

the official who signals the beginning of a race or competition

a contestant in a team sport who is in the game at the beginning

Example

The baker ripened the sourdough starter for several days before using it in the bread recipe.

The backup quarterback had to cover for the injured starter in the crucial game.

The backup quarterback had to make up for the injured starter and lead the team to victory.

The language teacher employed instructional scaffolding by providing visual aids, vocabulary lists, and sentence starters to support English language learners as they practiced speaking and writing.