---
title: starter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «starter» in the school dictionary: A small dish eaten as the first part of a meal; in the US called an appetizer. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# starter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small dish, person, device, I, starter, race · **What happens:** eat, call, start, begin, have, cost · **To what, where:** small dish, appetizer, race, game, engine, tomato soup · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«starter» in the school dictionary: its 5 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [starter in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/starter.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small dish eaten as the first part of a meal; in the US called an appetizer.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:m1:1
# text = A small dish eaten as the first part of a meal; in the US called an appetizer.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	dish	dish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
4	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
16	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
17	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	appetizer	appetizer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | participle |  | a small dish in the US *not said here* |  |  |  | as the first part of a meal | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **call** | past | a small dish in the US | a appetizer |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent appetizer=Recipient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who starts a race, or a person or team that begins a game (not a substitute).

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:m2:1
# text = A person who starts a race, or a person or team that begins a game (not a substitute).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	begins	begin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	substitute	substitute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | a person or a person or team | a race |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent race=Eventuality |
| 2 | **begin** | present | a person or team | a game |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A device that starts an engine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:m3:1
# text = A device that starts an engine.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	device	device	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | a device | a engine |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent engine=Eventuality |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«For starters» (informal): to begin with; first of all.

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:m4:1
# text = «For starters» (informal): to begin with; first of all.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	For	for	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	starters	starter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	begin	begin	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	10	advmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | first *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something to start with: a starter pack, a conversation starter, a sourdough starter.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:m5:1
# text = Something to start with: a starter pack, a conversation starter, a sourdough starter.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	acl	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	pack	pack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	sourdough	sourdough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
For a starter I'll have the tomato soup.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:x1:1
# text = For a starter I'll have the tomato soup.
1	For	for	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	tomato	tomato	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	soup	soup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | future | I | the tomato soup |  |  |  | for a starter | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent soup=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The starter costs $5, the main $12 and the pudding $4 — $21 in all.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:x2:1
# text = The starter costs $5, the main $12 and the pudding $4 — $21 in all.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	costs	cost	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	$	$	SYM	$	_	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	$	$	SYM	$	_	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	pudding	pudding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
14	$	$	SYM	$	_	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
16	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
17	$	$	SYM	$	_	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	21	21	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** | present | the starter |  |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme $=Value |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The starter fired the gun and the race began.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:x3:1
# text = The starter fired the gun and the race began.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fired	fire	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gun	gun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fire** | past | the starter | the gun |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gun=Theme |
| 2 | **begin** | past | the race |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He's a starter now, not a sub.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:x4:1
# text = He's a starter now, not a sub.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	sub	sub	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | He | a starter and a sub |  |  | now |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
For starters, your room is a mess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:x5:1
# text = For starters, your room is a mess.
1	For	for	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	starters	starter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mess	mess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | your room | a mess |  |  |  | for starters | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car's starter is broken, so it won't start.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:x6:1
# text = The car's starter is broken, so it won't start.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	wo	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | present · passive |  | the car's starter |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **start** | future | starter |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our maths starter today was a times-table quiz.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starter:x7:1
# text = Our maths starter today was a times-table quiz.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	compound	_	_
3	starter	starter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:unmarked	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	quiz	quiz	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Our maths starter  today | table quiz |  |  | time |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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