Definitions for startle
ˈstɑr tlstar·tle

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. startle, jump, startverb

   a sudden involuntary movement

   "he awoke with a start"

2. startle, galvanize, galvaniseverb

   to stimulate to action

   "..startled him awake"; "galvanized into action"

3. startle, jump, startverb

   move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm

   "She startled when I walked into the room"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. startlenoun

   A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger.

2. startleverb

   To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.

3. startleverb

   To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise.

4. startleverb

   To deter; to cause to deviate.

5. Etymology: From startlen, stertlen, stertyllen, from steartlian, equivalent to. Cognate with stirtla, stirtla. Compare also stertil. More at start.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Startlenoun

   Sudden alarm; shock; sudden impression of terrour.

   Etymology: from the verb.

   After having recovered from my first startle, I was very well pleased at the accident. Spectator.

2. To Startleverb

   To fright; to shock; to impress with sudden terrour, surprise, or alarm.

   They would find occasions enough, upon the account of his known affections to the king’s service, from which it was not possible to remove or startle him. Edward Hyde.

   Wilmot had more scruples from religion to startle him, and would not have attained his end by any gross act of wickedness. Edward Hyde.

   Such whisp’ring wak’d her, but with startled eye
   On Adam. John Milton.

   To hear the lark begin his flight,
   And singing startle the dull night
   From his watch-tower in the skies,
   ’Till the dappled dawn doth rise. John Milton.

   The supposition that angels assume bodies needs not startle us, since some of the most ancient and most learned fathers seemed to believe that they had bodies. John Locke.

   Incest! Oh name it not!
   The very mention shakes my inmost soul:
   The gods are startled in their peaceful mansions,
   And nature sickens at the shocking sound. Smith.

   His books had been solemnly burnt at Rome as heretical: some people, he found, were startled at it; so he was forced boldly to make reprisals, to buoy up their courage. Francis Atterbury.

   Now the leaf
   Incessant rustles, from the mournful grove
   Oft startling such as studious walk below,
   And slowly circles through the waving air. James Thomson.

3. To Startleverb

   To shrink; to move on feeling a sudden impression of alarm or terrour.

   Etymology: from start.

   The startling steed was seiz’d with sudden fright,
   And bounding o’er the pommel cast the knight. Dryden.

   Why shrinks the soul
   Back on herself, and startles at destruction? Joseph Addison, Cato.

   My frighted thoughts run back,
   And startle into madness at the sound. Joseph Addison, Cato.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. startle

   In animals, including humans, the startle response is a largely unconscious defensive response to sudden or threatening stimuli, such as sudden noise or sharp movement, and is associated with negative affect. Usually the onset of the startle response is a startle reflex reaction. The startle reflex is a brainstem reflectory reaction (reflex) that serves to protect vulnerable parts, such as the back of the neck (whole-body startle) and the eyes (eyeblink) and facilitates escape from sudden stimuli. It is found across many different species, throughout all stages of life. A variety of responses may occur depending on the affected individual's emotional state, body posture, preparation for execution of a motor task, or other activities. The startle response is implicated in the formation of specific phobias.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. startle

   Startle refers to experiencing a sudden shock or surprise, typically causing a quick, involuntary movement. This response could be triggered by an unexpected sound, sight, or physical touch. It's often associated with fear or surprise.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Startleverb

   to move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start

2. Startleverb

   to excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise

3. Startleverb

   to deter; to cause to deviate

4. Startlenoun

   a sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger

5. Etymology: [Freq. of start.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Startle

   stärt′l, v.i. to start or move suddenly: to feel sudden alarm.—v.t. to excite suddenly: to shock: to frighten.—n. sudden alarm or surprise.—n. Start′ler.—adj. Start′ling, such as to strike with astonishment or alarm.—adv. Start′lingly.—adj. Start′lish, apt to start. [Extension of start.]

Matched Categories

1. • Move

Anagrams for startle »

1. rattles

2. starlet

3. tarlets

4. slatter

How to pronounce startle?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say startle in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of startle in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of startle in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of startle in a Sentence

1. Confucius:

   He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed.

2. Chris Breitigan:

   I ’ll be right on the verge of falling asleep and it’s like someone tickles me, it starts from my back and moves down through my legs. I startle and get a sort of jerk in my body.

3. Lisa Grennan:

   They go through enormous amounts of training and are more used to going up against multiple grown men and hearing loud noises, so the little things a kid might do to startle a regular dog isn't going to phase ours at all.

4. Britton Hayes:

   We started to notice the cheetahs became curious of the vehicle; but it was too late to drive away or anything like that because you don’t want to startle the animals, because that’s when things usually go wrong.

5. Bob Barnes:

   I didn’t want to startle the bull, i just snuck by him.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=startle
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Startle
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=startle
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startle
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startle
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=startle