1. (v. i.) To leap; to jump.

2. (v. i.) To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act.

3. (v. i.) To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin; as, to start business.

4. (v. i.) To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a seam may start under strain or pressure.

5. (v. t.) To cause to move suddenly; to disturb suddenly; to startle; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly; as, the hounds started a fox.

6. (v. t.) To bring onto being or into view; to originate; to invent.

7. (v. t.) To cause to move or act; to set going, running, or flowing; as, to start a railway train; to start a mill; to start a stream of water; to start a rumor; to start a business.

8. (v. t.) To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate; as, to start a bone; the storm started the bolts in the vessel.

9. (v. t.) To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from; as, to start a water cask.

10. (n.) The act of starting; a sudden spring, leap, or motion, caused by surprise, fear, pain, or the like; any sudden motion, or beginning of motion.

11. (n.) A convulsive motion, twitch, or spasm; a spasmodic effort.

12. (n.) A sudden, unexpected movement; a sudden and capricious impulse; a sally; as, starts of fancy.

13. (n.) The beginning, as of a journey or a course of action; first motion from a place; act of setting out; the outset; -- opposed to finish.

14. (n.) A tail, or anything projecting like a tail.

15. (n.) The handle, or tail, of a plow; also, any long handle.

16. (n.) The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water-wheel bucket.

17. (n.) The arm, or level, of a gin, drawn around by a horse.