Start (@stärt), v. i. [imp. & p. p.@Started; p. pr. & vb. n.@Starting.] [OE. sterten; akin to D. storten @to hurl, rush, fall, G. stürzen, OHG. sturzen to turn over, to fall, Sw. stör@ta to cast down, to fall, Dan. styrte, and probably also to E. start a tail; the original sense being, perhaps, to show the tail, to tumble over suddenly. √166. Cf. Start a tail.] 1. To leap; to jump.
2. To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act.
And maketh him out of his sleep to start. Chaucer.
I start as from some dreadful dream. Dryden.
Keep your soul to the work when ready to start aside. I. Watts.
But if he start,
It is the flesh of a corrupted heart. Shak.
3. To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin; as, to start @in business.
At once they start, advancing in a line. Dryden.
At intervals some bird from out the brakes
Starts into voice a moment, then is still. Byron.
4. To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a seam may start under strain or pressure.
To start after, to set out after; to follow; to pursue. — To start against, to act as a rival candidate against. — To start for, to be a candidate for, as an office. — To start up, to rise suddenly, as from a seat or couch; to come suddenly into notice or importance.