hard start
Rough initial phase
A hard start is a delayed ignition in a combustion system—fuel accumulates before finally catching, causing a sudden explosive burst rather than smooth firing.
The term applies to furnaces, water heaters, gas appliances, and engines: The furnace's hard start shook the whole house.
In rocketry, a hard start can be catastrophic.
The concept extends to any situation where something begins abruptly or roughly after resistance: Monday was a hard start after the long weekend.
Starting combustion process
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- spark plugElectrical ignition component
- fuel pumpDevice transferring petroleum to motor
- carburetorEngine fuel-air mixer
choke · compression · glow plug · block heater · diesel · flooded engine · priming · turnover
Thin ice coating
- freezingExtremely cold
- subzeroBelow the freezing point
- frigidExtremely and intensely cold
- wintryCold and frosty
ice · block heater · defrost · glow plug · sluggish · warm-up · garage · cold snap
Delay from uncertainty
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- unwillingnessDisinclination to act
- foot-draggingDeliberate slowness or resistance
delay · avoidance · dread · anxiety · overwhelm · paralysis · mental block · inertia
Labored effort against resistance
- challengeTest of ability
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
- uphillToward higher elevation
rocky · setback · adjustment · learning curve · first steps · teething problems
ignition
Starting combustion process
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- spark plugElectrical ignition component
- fuel pumpDevice transferring petroleum to motor
carburetor · choke · compression · glow plug · block heater · diesel · flooded engine · priming · turnover · alternator
frost
Thin ice coating
wintry · ice · block heater · defrost · glow plug · sluggish · warm-up · garage · cold snap · dead battery
hesitation
Delay from uncertainty
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- unwillingnessDisinclination to act
foot-dragging · delay · avoidance · dread · anxiety · overwhelm · paralysis · mental block · inertia · motivation
struggle
Labored effort against resistance
- challengeTest of ability
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
uphill · rocky · setback · adjustment · learning curve · first steps · teething problems