adjective + stare : blank, glassy, unblinking, unwavering; disapproving, icy, stony; curious, incredulous, wide-eyed
verb + stare : draw; meet, return VERB 1
stare + adverb : blankly, vacantly; fixedly, intently; dreamily, longingly
star|fish /stɑː r f I ʃ/ (starfish ) N‑COUNT A starfish is a flat, star-shaped creature with five arms that lives in the sea.
sta r-gazer (star-gazers ) also stargazer N‑COUNT A star-gazer is someone who studies the stars as an astronomer or astrologer. [INFORMAL ]
sta r-gazing also stargazing N‑UNCOUNT Star-gazing is the activity of studying the stars as an astronomer or astrologer. [INFORMAL ]
stark /stɑː r k/ (starker , starkest )
1 ADJ Stark choices or statements are harsh and unpleasant. □ U.K. companies face a stark choice if they want to stay competitive. □ The conviction should send out a stark warning to other motorists. ● stark|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ The point is a starkly simple one.
2 ADJ If two things are in stark contrast to one another, they are very different from each other in a way that is very obvious. □ …secret cooperation between London and Washington that was in stark contrast to official policy. ● stark|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ The outlook now is starkly different.
3 ADJ Something that is stark is very plain in appearance. □ …the stark white, characterless fireplace in the drawing room. ● stark|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ The desert was luminous, starkly beautiful.
sta rk na |ked ADJ [ADJ after v, v-link ADJ ] Someone who is stark naked is completely naked. [EMPHASIS ] □ All contestants were stark naked.
star|let /stɑː r l I t/ (starlets ) N‑COUNT A starlet is a young actress who is expected to become a film star in the future. [JOURNALISM ]
star|light /stɑː r la I t/ N‑UNCOUNT Starlight is the light that comes from the stars at night.
star|ling /stɑː r l I ŋ/ (starlings ) N‑COUNT A starling is a very common bird with greenish-black feathers covered in pale spots which is found in Europe and North America. Starlings often fly around in large groups.
star|lit /stɑː r l I t/ ADJ [ADJ n] Starlit means made lighter or brighter by the stars. □ …a clear starlit sky. □ …this cold, starlit night.
sta r pri ze (star prizes ) N‑COUNT The star prize in a competition is the most valuable prize.
star|ry /stɑː ri/ ADJ [ADJ n] A starry night or sky is one in which a lot of stars are visible. □ She stared up at the starry sky.
sta rry-eyed ADJ If you say that someone is starry-eyed , you mean that they have such a positive or hopeful view of a situation that they do not see what it is really like. □ I'm not starry-eyed about Europe. □ …a starry-eyed young couple.
Sta rs and Stri pes N‑PROPER The Stars and Stripes is the name of the national flag of the United States of America.
sta r sign (star signs ) N‑COUNT Your star sign is the sign of the zodiac under which you were born.
star|struck /stɑː r strʌk/ ADJ If you describe someone as starstruck , you mean that they are very interested in and impressed by famous performers, or that they want to be a performer themselves. □ …a starstruck teenager who auditions for a TV dance show.
sta r-studded ADJ [ADJ n] A star-studded show, event, or cast is one that includes a large number of famous performers. [JOURNALISM ] □ …a star-studded production of Hamlet.
start ◆◆◆ /stɑː r t/ (starts , starting , started )
1 VERB If you start to do something, you do something that you were not doing before and you continue doing it. □ [V to-inf] John then unlocked the front door and I started to follow him up the stairs. □ [V n/v-ing] It was 1956 when Susanna started the work on the garden. □ [V n/v-ing] She started cleaning the kitchen. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT Start is also a noun. □ After several starts, she read the report properly.
2 VERB When something starts , or if someone starts it, it takes place from a particular time. □ [V prep] The fire is thought to have started in an upstairs room. □ [V prep] The Great War started in August of that year. □ [V n] All of the passengers started the day with a swim. ● N‑SING Start is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …1918, four years after the start of the Great War. □ She demanded to know why she had not been told from the start.
3 VERB If you start by doing something, or if you start with something, you do that thing first in a series of actions. □ [V + by ] I started by asking about day-care centers. □ [V + with ] He started with a good holiday in Key West, Florida.
4 VERB You use start to say what someone's first job was. For example, if their first job was that of a factory worker, you can say that they started as a factory worker. □ [V + as ] Betty started as a shipping clerk at the clothes factory. ● PHRASAL VERB Start off means the same as start . □ [V P + as ] Mr. Dambar had started off as an assistant to Mrs. Spear's husband.
5 VERB When someone starts something such as a new business, they create it or cause it to begin. □ [V n] Now is probably as good a time as any to start a business. ● PHRASAL VERB Start up means the same as start . □ [V P n] The cost of starting up a day care center for children ranges from $150,000 to $300,000. □ [V n P ] He said what a good idea it would be to start a community magazine up.