/ Dictionary / Index S startle: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: star•tle Pronunciation: (stär'tl), [key] — v., n. -tled, -tling, —v.t. to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm. to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock. —v.i. to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm. —n. a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like. something that startles. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: startle (Thesaurus) starting handle startling Related Content Daily Word Quiz: neologism Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language