HEAD START

{n.} 1. A beginning before someone; lead or advantage at the beginning. * /The other racers knew they couldn't catch Don if he got too big a head start./ * /Joe has a head start. He began to study earlier than we did./ 2. A good beginning. * /Let's get a head start in painting the house by getting up early./ * /The teacher gave the class a head start on the exercise by telling them the answers to the first two problems./ Compare: RUNNING START.