kick start

See also: kickstart and kick-start

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

kick +‎ start

Noun

kick start (plural kick starts)

  1. A metal bar on motorcycle that is used to start its engine.
  2. An act of starting a motorcycle by quickly depressing the kick start with one's foot.
    The motorcycle requires a kick start.
  3. A fast or strong start; help with starting or beginning well.
    As a kick start for the group, let's write up some ideas.
  4. An impetus that starts or restarts some process.

Translations

Verb

kick start (third-person singular simple present kick starts, present participle kick starting, simple past and past participle kick started)

  1. (transitive) To start a motorcycle
  2. (transitive) To start or begin strongly or quickly.
    To kick start your learning, let's summarize the basics.

Usage notes

Noun senses 3 and 4, and verb sense 2, are considered incorrect in some circles; in all probability, the use of kick start to mean "revitalize" or "provide impetus" was derived from the metaphorical use of jump start in that sense.

Translations

See also

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