kick start

See also: kickstart and kick-start

English
kick start on a motorcycle (1)

Alternative forms

Etymology

kick +‎ start

Noun

kick start (plural kick starts)

  1. A metal bar on a motorcycle 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. (figuratively) 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.
    He kick started the motorcycle and took off.
  2. (transitive, figurative) To start or begin strongly or quickly.
    To kick start your learning, let's summarize the basics.
    Kick start your day with a hearty breakfast.
  3. (transitive, figurative) To make (something) active, functional, or productive again; to reinvigorate (an activity, system, or process).
    Synonyms: reinvigorate, revitalize, jump-start
    To kick start the economy with a large construction project.
    • 2022 January 17, Jillian Ambrose, “China’s coal production hit record levels in 2021”, in The Guardian‎:
      The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted that global consumption of coal power […] would reach record levels in 2021 driven by a surge in demand for energy to kickstart global economies following the coronavirus pandemic.

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

Further reading
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