1
a starter
可数名词，指单个起动机。
I need a new starter for my car.
我需要一个新的汽车起动机。
前菜；开胃菜
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
前菜；开胃菜
a small dish served before the main part of a meal
I need a new starter for my car.
我需要一个新的汽车起动机。
开始的人或事物
Someone who starts, or who starts something.
启动机(用于启动发动机的电动机)
an electric motor for starting an engine
启动某事的东西
Something that starts something.
团体运动比赛中首发的选手
a contestant in a team sport who is in the game at the beginning
For my starter, I ordered the tomato soup.
至于前菜，我点了番茄汤。
The restaurant offers a choice of three starters, including a fresh garden salad.
这家餐厅提供三道前菜供选择，包括一份新鲜田园沙拉。
As a starter, the garlic bread was delicious, but the main course was even better.
作为前菜，蒜香面包很好吃，但主菜更棒。
可数名词，指单个起动机。
I need a new starter for my car.
我需要一个新的汽车起动机。
固定搭配，指起动机这一部件。
The starter motor is making a strange noise.
起动机发出奇怪的声音。
常见动词搭配，表示维修或更换起动机。
He replaced the starter himself.
他自己更换了起动机。
Not this
I need to starter the engine.
Use this
I need to start the engine.
英语中starter是名词，意为“起动机”，而动词应为start。中国学习者受中文影响，常将名词误用作动词。
Not this
Starter is broken.
Use this
The starter is broken.
英语中可数名词在泛指时需加冠词，而中文无冠词，学习者易遗漏。此处starter指具体起动机，需加定冠词the。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
汽车起动机
The car starter failed to turn over the engine.
汽车起动机未能转动发动机。
发动机起动机
The mechanic replaced the faulty engine starter.
机械师更换了有故障的发动机起动机。
起动电机
A strong battery is needed to power the starter motor.
需要一块强劲的电池来驱动起动电机。
起动电池
The starter battery provides the initial power to crank the engine.
起动电池提供初始动力来转动发动机。
起动开关
Turn the key to engage the starter switch.
转动钥匙以接通起动开关。
起动电磁开关
The starter solenoid clicks but the engine doesn't turn over.
起动电磁开关咔哒响，但发动机无法转动。
首先，一开始
For starters, let's review the main points.
首先，我们来回顾一下要点。
首购住房
They bought a starter home in the suburbs.
他们在郊区买了一套首购住房。
入门套装
This starter pack includes everything you need.
这个入门套装包含你需要的一切。
Use starter naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
启动（start）加后缀 -er 表示“做...的人或物”，想象钥匙转动启动汽车引擎的情景，很容易记住“起动机”。
Register: neutral, technical; typical settings: automotive repair, engine mechanics. Note_zh: 这个义项（起动机）是一个机械术语，通常用于汽车和发动机的语境，属于中性语体，但在日常交流中不如在专业领域常见。
The words garter, charter, barter, and smarter rhyme with starter (stressed vowel /ɑr/ and ending /tɚ/). Note that harder, though spelled with a similar ending '-arder', is pronounced with a /d/ instead of /t/, so it does not rhyme exactly.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.