заводи́ть

fairly common #2888verbimperfective perfective is завести́

1.
to start (an engine), to get going, to wind up (a clock)
Он до́лго не мог заводи́ть мото́р в моро́з.
For a long time he could not start the engine in the frost.
Of engines, cars, machines; also of winding a watch or a toy.
2.
to get, to acquire, to take on
Они́ хотя́т заводи́ть себе́ соба́ку.
They want to get themselves a dog.
Of pets, a family, friends, useful things.
3.
to strike up (a conversation), to start (an argument)
Он ка́ждый раз заво́дит разгово́р о поли́тике.
He strikes up a conversation about politics every time.
With разговор, спор, знакомство.
4.
to introduce, to establish, to set up
Но́вый дире́ктор стал заводи́ть но́вые поря́дки.
The new director began introducing new rules.
Of customs, rules, a business.
5.
to lead (far away), to take (somewhere), to lead astray
Я по́нял, что стари́к заво́дит меня́ всё да́льше в лес.
I realised that the old man was leading me deeper and deeper into the forest.
6.
to turn on, to excite, to get worked upcolloquial
Така́я му́зыка меня́ то́лько заво́дит.
Music like that just gets me going.
Of music, a person, a crowd.

Motion info

заводи́ть is derived from the multidirectional verb of motion води́ть with prefix за- (go behind / start).

Из-за некоммуникабельности он редко заводил друзей.
Because of his uncommunicativeness, he rarely made friends.
Пожалуйста, скажи́те мне, как заводи́ть мото́р.
Please tell me how to start the engine.
Джим, похоже, владе́ет иску́сством заводи́ть подру́жек.
Jim seems to know the art of making friends with girls.
Его замкнутость мешала ему заводить друзей.
His reserve made it difficult for him to make friends.
Она настоя́щая раси́стка, раз заво́дит таки́е разгово́ры.
She's the real racist for bringing it up.
Малоразговорчивые люди редко заводят новых друзей
Taciturn people rarely make new friends.
Эта ненавистница кошек никогда их не заводила.
That cat hater has never had one as a pet.
Вчера́ но́чью я не заводи́л часы.
I didn't wind the clock last night.

Note: Stress change.

Imperative
ты	заводи́
вы	заводи́те

Active present	заводя́щий	exciting, stimulating, thrilling, arousing
Active past	заводи́вший	starting (an engine), winding up (a clock), getting going
Passive present	заводи́мый	startable, that can be started
Passive past	заво́женный	run-down, neglected, shabby, squalid
Gerund present	-
Gerund past	заводи́в заводивши	while doing (past)

води́тьto drive; to lead; to fool
verbimperfective
вводи́тьto introduce; to lead in; to enter; to put into (a state)
verbimperfective
уводи́тьto lead away; to steal; to steal (someone's partner)
verbimperfective
взводи́тьto cock (a gun); to impute; to lead up
verbimperfective
води́тьсяto be found; to associate with; to be customary
verbimperfective

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(Derived from води́ть.)

Verb	Prefix	Meaning
заводи́ть	за-	to start (an engine); to get; to strike up (a conversation); to introduce; to lead (far away); to turn on
заводи́ться	за-	to start; to appear; to get worked up; to be established; to be wound up

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вести́to lead; to drive; to conduct; to behave; to keep (a diary); to lead (of a road)
заво́дfactory; winding mechanism
заведе́ниеinstitution
завести́сьto start; to get worked up; to infest; to be acquired
обзаводи́тьсяto acquire