starters

Starters is the plural of starter and has several related meanings across domains. It commonly refers to people or things that begin something, such as the players who start a game, the first course of a meal, or a culture or device that initiates a process such as fermentation or engine startup.

In team sports, starters are the players selected to begin a game. They are typically contrasted with substitutes and chosen for their skill, fitness, and fit with the game plan. Starter status can change due to injury, form, or tactical decisions.

In dining, a starter (also called an appetizer) is a small dish served before the main course to stimulate appetite. Starters can be hot or cold and include soups, salads, canapés, or seafood.

In fermentation and baking, a starter is a live culture used to initiate fermentation, such as a sourdough starter. It consists of yeasts and bacteria maintained by regular feedings and shapes final flavor and texture.

In engineering, a starter or starter motor provides the initial rotation to start an internal-combustion engine and is disengaged once ignition occurs. The term also appears in contexts like starter kits or warm-up activities that begin an endeavor.