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kick start

noun, verb — 7 senses

kick start

noun

Etymology From kick + start. Compare push-start.

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.

kick start

verb

Etymology From kick + start. Compare push-start.

1

To start a motorcycle.

  • He kick started the motorcycle and took off.
2

Figuratively 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

Figuratively To make (something) active, functional, or productive again; to reinvigorate (an activity, system, or process).

  • To kick start the economy with a large construction project.
  • 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.2022 January 17, Jillian Ambrose, “China’s coal production hit record levels in 2021”, in The Guardian:
Related terms
flying start, head start, jump start, kick off

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.