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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To start up

start \start\ (st[aum]rt), v. i. [imp. & p. p. started; p. pr. & vb. n. starting.] [OE. sterten; akin to D. storten to hurl, rush, fall, G. st["u]rzen, OHG. sturzen to turn over, to fall, Sw. st["o]rta to cast down, to fall, Dan. styrte, and probably also to E. start a tail; the original sense being, perhaps, to show the tail, to tumble over suddenly.

  1. To leap; to jump. [Obs.]

  2. To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act.

    And maketh him out of his sleep to start.
    --Chaucer.

    I start as from some dreadful dream.
    --Dryden.

    Keep your soul to the work when ready to start aside.
    --I. Watts.

    But if he start, It is the flesh of a corrupted heart.
    --Shak.

  3. To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin; as, to start in business.

    At once they start, advancing in a line.
    --Dryden.

    At intervals some bird from out the brakes Starts into voice a moment, then is still.
    --Byron.

  4. To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a seam may start under strain or pressure.

    To start after, to set out after; to follow; to pursue.

    To start against, to act as a rival candidate against.

    To start for, to be a candidate for, as an office.

    To start up, to rise suddenly, as from a seat or couch; to come suddenly into notice or importance.

Usage examples of "to start up".

But she knew no man would ever satisfy her completely, and anyway he showed no signs of wanting to start up anything exclusive.

He has lost his job in a reshuffle and now pens freelance pieces from home while he attempts to start up a small business.

Before any words were spoken, a loud and terrible crash of falling masonry caused the assembled party to start up from their chairs in consternation.

That made Margo laugh, and together they crossed the road to start up the hill to Templeton House.

She was about to start up, to hunt Jacel and Massa with news of her discovery, when second thoughts argued against that.

And since there are probably just the two of us, and one of us is a regular, I don't think they're going to start up a series of 'don't piss in the potted palms' classes just for us.