Meaning of start off

[Guest]

Test No. incompl/elem-6 "Start/Begin", question 9

Who would like to ......... off the debate?

(a) begin
(b) start
(c) begins
(d) starting

Test No. incompl/elem-6 "Start/Begin", answer 9

Who would like to start off the debate?

Correct answer: (b) start

Your answer was: correct
_________________________

what does start off mean? I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF MEANINGS
IS GET ANGRY ONE OF THEM?
THANKS

[Torsten]

In this sentence it means cause the debate to begin, take the first step.

TOEFL listening discussions: A conversation between an upperclassman and a freshman coed

[Misskhan]

Dear Mr. Alan

As you told that in question#.3 Start off means(This is usually used to indicate the start/beginning of a trip or a journey).

but in question#.9 (Who would like to "start off" the debate?)

what start off means here although Mr. Torsten explain well but it is still confusing me.

waiting for your reply

Thanks & Regards

[Mahboobeh62]

[Mahboobeh62]

hi
me too i dont get the meaninig of started off
on sentence hase one meaning and the other has another .which on is true