STARTER

[noun] [C]A starter is a person, animal or organization that is involved at the beginning of an activity, esp. a race.Of the ten starters (= horses which started in the race), two fell at the first fence.A starter can also be a small savoury dish served as the first part of a meal.We had soup/pâté/pasta as a starter.A starter is also the person who gives the signal for a race to begin.They're under starter's orders (= ready for the signal to begin the race).(informal) For starters means 'to begin with' or 'as the first, with other things to follow'.The country imports up to half its food and most of its energy, and that's just for starters (= there are other problems too)."Why did you decide not to go to the concert?" "Well, for starters the tickets were ridiculously expensive." See also to start with at start (BEGIN) and for a start at start (BEGIN).