start‧er /ˈstɑːtə $ ˈstɑːrtər/ noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: start, starter ≠ NON-STARTER, restart; verb: start, restart]

1. British English a small amount of food eaten at the start of a meal before the main part Synonym : appetizer American English:
We had soup as a starter, followed by steak.

2. a person, horse, car etc that is in a race when it starts:
Of the seven starters, only three finished the race.

3. someone who gives the signal for a race to begin:
The starter fired his gun.
under starter’s orders (=about to begin the race)

4. late starter British English someone who begins doing something, especially a job, later in life than people generally do

5. for starters spoken informal 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.

6. a starter motor
⇒ nonstarter, self-starter

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

starter
noun
ADJ. cold, hot
VERB + STARTER eat, have Are you having a starter?
choose, order I've chosen a hot starter.
serve sth as This dish can be served as a starter or a main course.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲