Library / English Dictionary

STARTLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sudden involuntary movement

Example:

he awoke with a start

Synonyms:

jump; start; startle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("startle" is a kind of...):

inborn reflex; innate reflex; instinctive reflex; physiological reaction; reflex; reflex action; reflex response; unconditioned reflex (an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "startle"):

startle reaction; startle response (a complicated involuntary reaction to a sudden unexpected stimulus (especially a loud noise); involves flexion of most skeletal muscles and a variety of visceral reactions)

Moro reflex; startle reflex (a normal reflex of young infants; a sudden loud noise causes the child to stretch out the arms and flex the legs)

flinch; wince (a reflex response to sudden pain)

Derivation:

startle (move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

To stimulate to action

Example:

galvanized into action

Synonyms:

galvanise; galvanize; startle

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "startle" is one way to...):

ball over; blow out of the water; floor; shock; take aback (surprise greatly; knock someone's socks off)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something

Sentence examples:

The bad news will startle him

The good news will startle her

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm

Example:

She startled when I walked into the room

Synonyms:

jump; start; startle

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "startle" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "startle"):

shy (start suddenly, as from fright)

boggle (startle with amazement or fear)

rear back (start with anger or resentment or in protest)

jackrabbit (go forward or start with a fast, sudden movement)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

startle (a sudden involuntary movement)

Credits

 Context examples: 

This answer startled me, but I presently recovered myself.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

"Pardon me," replied Elinor, startled by the question; "but I can give you no advice under such circumstances. Your own judgment must direct you."

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The storm still raged, and various were the noises, more terrific even than the wind, which struck at intervals on her startled ear.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

He had a wizened face, and sharp little dark eyes, which took in me and the house and my mother’s startled face at the window all in the instant.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Hans!" she would cry, "wake up!" and he would come to a recollection of himself, startled and shamefaced and unrepentant.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

At this instant, however, a startled shout rang out from two seamen upon the forecastle.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They were startled to notice that all the landslides originated along a distinct line.

(NASA Map Reveals a New Landslide Risk Factor, NASA)

When she had finished her meal, and was about to go back to the road of yellow brick, she was startled to hear a deep groan near by.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Conversely, it may have been that the startling new moon revealed that you needed to help a friend, sweetheart, or child.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) Tension; feelings of tension, fatigability, startle response, moved to tears easily, trembling, feelings of restlessness, inability to relax.

(HAMA - Tension, NCI Thesaurus)