start

/stɑːt/

The beginning of an activity.

The movie was entertaining from start to finish.

A sudden involuntary movement.

He woke with a start.

The beginning point of a race, a board game, etc.

Captured pieces are returned to the start of the board.

An appearance in a sports game, horserace, etc., from the beginning of the event.

Jones has been a substitute before, but made his first start for the team last Sunday.

A young plant germinated in a pot to be transplanted later.

An initial advantage over somebody else; a head start.

to get, or have, the start