Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Starter \Start"er\, n.
   1. One who, or that which, starts; as, a starter on a
      journey; the starter of a race.

   2. A dog that rouses game.

Source : WordNet®

starter
     n 1: an electric motor for starting an engine [syn: {starter
          motor}, {starting motor}]
     2: 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"
     3: a contestant who is in the game at the beginning
     4: the official who signals the beginning of a race or
        competition [syn: {dispatcher}]
     5: any new participant in some activity [syn: {newcomer}, {fledgling},
         {fledgeling}, {neophyte}, {freshman}, {newbie}, {entrant}]
     6: food or drink to stimulate the appetite (usually served
        before a meal or as the first course) [syn: {appetizer}, {appetiser}]
     7: a hand tool consisting of a rotating shaft with parallel
        handle [syn: {crank}]