starter
/ˈstɑːtə(r)/noun
1- a person or thing that starts an event, activity, or process, in particular开头的人（或事）, 尤指：
1.1
- chiefly Brit. the first course of a meal, especially one with three or more courses〈主英〉第一道菜。
1.2
- an automatic device for starting a machine, especially the engine of a vehicle（机器, 尤指引擎的）自动启动装置。
1.3
- a person who gives the signal for the start of a race（赛跑的）发令员。
1.4
- with adj. a horse, competitor, or player taking part in a race or game at the start参赛首发的马（或竞争者、选手）：
the trainer has confirmed Cool Ground as a definite starter.
驯马师已证实“酷场”肯定是首发参赛的马。
1.5
- Baseball the pitcher who starts the game【棒球】（开赛的）投手。
1.6
- with adj. a person or thing that starts in a specified way, especially with reference to time or speed（尤指时间或速度方面）以某种方式起步者, 以某种方式开端的事物：
he was a late starter in photography
他在摄影方面起步较晚
I'm just a slow starter.
我不过是个缓慢起步者。
1.7
- a topic, question, or other item with which to start a group discussion or course of study（小组讨论或研究进程的）开端话题（或问题、其他项目）：
material to act as a starter for discussion.
作为讨论开端的资料。
1.8
a starter
informal a plan or idea that has a chance of succeeding and is therefore worthy of consideration〈非正式〉可行计划（或想法）：she began to think that she must move away, yet she knew that it was not even a starter.
她开始认为她必须搬走, 然而她知道这根本就行不通。
1.9
- （亦作starter culture）a bacterial culture used to initiate souring in making yogurt, cheese, or butter起子培养物。
1.10
- a preparation of chemicals to initiate the breakdown of vegetable matter in making compost（制造堆肥时使植物分解的）促酵剂, 引酵物。
1.11
- a railway signal controlling the starting of trains from a station or other location（火车的）发车信号。
短语
for starters
- informal first of all; to start with〈非正式〉首先; 一开始, 开始时。
under starter's orders
- (of horses, runners, or other competitors) ready to start a race and just waiting for the signal（马、赛跑运动员等竞赛者）等候号令准备起跑。