From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
start \start\ (st[aum]rt), v. i. [imp. & p. p. started; p. pr. & vb. n. starting.] [OE. sterten; akin to D. storten to hurl, rush, fall, G. st["u]rzen, OHG. sturzen to turn over, to fall, Sw. st["o]rta 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. [root]166. Cf. Start a tail.] 1. To leap; to jump. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
2. To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act. [1913 Webster]
And maketh him out of his sleep to start. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
I start as from some dreadful dream. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Keep your soul to the work when ready to start aside. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]
But if he start, It is the flesh of a corrupted heart. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin; as, to start in business. [1913 Webster]
At once they start, advancing in a line. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
At intervals some bird from out the brakes Starts into voice a moment, then is still. --Byron. [1913 Webster]
4. To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a seam may start under strain or pressure. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Start \Start\, n. [OE. stert a tail, AS. steort; akin to LG. stert, steert, D. staart, G. sterz, Icel. stertr, Dan. stiert, Sw. stjert. [root]166. Cf. Stark naked, under Stark, Start, v. i.] 1. A tail, or anything projecting like a tail. [1913 Webster]
2. The handle, or tail, of a plow; also, any long handle. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]
3. The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water-wheel bucket. [1913 Webster]
4. (Mining) The arm, or lever, of a gin, drawn around by a horse. [1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Start \Start\, n. 1. 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. [1913 Webster]
The fright awakened Arcite with a start. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
2. A convulsive motion, twitch, or spasm; a spasmodic effort. [1913 Webster]
For she did speak in starts distractedly. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Nature does nothing by starts and leaps, or in a hurry. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]
3. A sudden, unexpected movement; a sudden and capricious impulse; a sally; as, starts of fancy. [1913 Webster]
To check the starts and sallies of the soul. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
4. 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. [1913 Webster]
The start of first performance is all. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
At a start, at once; in an instant. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
At a start he was betwixt them two. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
To get the start, or To have the start, to begin before another; to gain or have the advantage in a similar undertaking; -- usually with of. "Get the start of the majestic world." --Shak. "She might have forsaken him if he had not got the start of her." --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Start \Start\ (st[aum]rt), v. t. 1. 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. [1913 Webster]
Upon malicious bravery dost thou come To start my quiet? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Caesar. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. To bring into being or into view; to originate; to invent. [1913 Webster]
Sensual men agree in the pursuit of every pleasure they can start. --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]
3. 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. [1913 Webster]
I was engaged in conversation upon a subject which the people love to start in discourse. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
4. 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. [1913 Webster]
One, by a fall in wrestling, started the end of the clavicle from the sternum. --Wiseman. [1913 Webster]
5. [Perh. from D. storten, which has this meaning also.] (Naut.) To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from; as, to start a water cask. [1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
START \START\ (st[aum]rt), n. [From Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.] A Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union which provided for stepwise reductions in the number of nuclear weapons possessed by each country. [PJC]