I. verb
1.
to move suddenly and violently from a state of stillness or rest
started from his bed at the sound of shots
Synonyms: bolt, jump, spring, startle
Related Word: dart; bounce; bound, leap; draw (back), flinch, recoil
Idioms: jump out of one's skin, start aside
Antonyms: stay
2.
Synonyms: recoil , blanch, blench, flinch, quail, shrink, squinch, wince
3.
Synonyms: begin 2, arise, commence, originate
Related Word: proceed, spring
Antonyms: end
4.
Synonyms: found 2, constitute, create, establish, institute, organize, set up
5.
Synonyms: begin 1, commence, embark (on or upon), enter, get off, inaugurate, initiate, open, take up, tee off
Antonyms: stop
II. noun
1.
Synonyms: beginning , alpha, commencement, dawn, dawning, genesis, onset, opening, outset, setout
Antonyms: finish
2.
Synonyms: advantage 3, allowance, bulge, ||deadwood, draw, edge, handicap, head start, odds, vantage