starter in WordNet English dictionary

1. food or drink to stimulate the appetite (usually served before a meal or as the first course)
   appetizer  appetiser  starter 
   
2. a hand tool consisting of a rotating shaft with parallel handle
   crank  starter 
   
3. the official who signals the beginning of a race or competition
   starter  dispatcher 
   
4. any new participant in some activity
   newcomer  fledgling  fledgeling  starter  neophyte  freshman  newbie  entrant 
   
5. a culture containing yeast or bacteria that is used to start the process of fermentation or souring in making butter or cheese or dough
   "to make sourdough you need a starter"
   starter 
   
6. an electric motor for starting an engine
   starter  starter motor  starting motor 
   
7. a contestant in a team sport who is in the game at the beginning
   starter