/'stɑ:tə(r); `stɑrtɚ/
n
1 person, horse, etc taking part in a race at the start 起跑的人、马或其他动物
*Of the five starters in the race only three finished. 起跑时有五 个, 只有三个跑完全程. Cf 参看 non-starter.
2 person who gives the signal for a race to start 起跑裁判员; 发令员
*waiting for the starter's gun to fire 等待发令员的枪响.
3 (usu with an adj 通常与形容词连用) person who starts sth (esp in the way specified by the adj) 开始进行某事者（尤指以该形容词所描述的方式）
*He's a fast starter. 他做事起步很快.
4 device for starting a machine, esp an engine 启动装置（尤指发动机的）.
5 (infml 口 esp Brit) (US also appetizer) first course of a meal (esp one with more than two courses) 第一道菜（尤指其後尚有至少两道菜）
*What would you like as a starter? 您第一道菜想来点什么?
6 (idm 习语) for `starters (infml 口) first of all; to start with 首先; 作为开头. under ,starter's `orders (of horses, athletes, etc ready to start a race) waiting for the order or signal to start （指参赛的马、运动员等）等待起跑的口令或信号.

n[C]
BrE a small amount of food eaten at the start of a meal before the main part
American Equivalent: appetizer
　We had soup as a starter , followed by steak.
a person, horse, car etc that is in a race when it starts
　Of the seven starters, only three finished the race.
someone who gives the signal for a race to begin
　The starter fired his gun.
under starter's orders
(=about to begin the race)
late starter
BrE someone who begins doing something, especially a job, later in life than people generally do
for starters
spoken used to emphasize the first of a series of facts, opinions, questions etc
　Well, for starters, you'll need to fill out an application form.
a starter motor
→nonstarter, self-starter