start up

Verb

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

1. (intransitive) To rise suddenly.
   • He started up when he heard the scream.
2. (transitive) To commence the operation of; to activate; to launch.
   • The four of them started up a law practice.
3. (intransitive) To begin to operate.
   • The engine started up right away.
4. (colloquial, intransitive) To begin.
   • The band started up playing.
5. (intransitive) To begin to make a sound
   • First a solitary blackbird started up, but soon the whole forest was alive with birdsong.