start ‧ le /ˈstɑːtl $ ˈstɑːrtl/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: steartlian 'to kick your legs about' ]
to make someone suddenly surprised or slightly shocked:
Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.
be startled to do something
I was startled to see Amanda.
—startled adjective :
a startled expression