starch

American  

[stahrch] / stɑrtʃ /

noun

1. a white, tasteless, solid carbohydrate, (C 6 H 1 0 O5 ) n , occurring in the form of minute granules in the seeds, tubers, and other parts of plants, and forming an important constituent of rice, corn, wheat, beans, potatoes, and many other vegetable foods.

2. a commercial preparation of this substance used to stiffen textile fabrics in laundering.

3. starches, foods rich in natural starch.

4. stiffness or formality, as of manner.

   He is so full of starch he can't relax.

5. Informal. physical or mental energy; vigor.

   Synonyms:

   boldness, stamina, energy

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verb (used with object)

1. to stiffen or treat with starch.

2. to make stiff or rigidly formal (sometimes followed byup ).

starch British  

/ stɑːtʃ /

noun

1. a polysaccharide composed of glucose units that occurs widely in plant tissues in the form of storage granules, consisting of amylose and amylopectin

2. Also called: amylum.  a starch obtained from potatoes and some grain: it is fine white powder that forms a translucent viscous solution on boiling with water and is used to stiffen fabric and in many industrial processes

3. any food containing a large amount of starch, such as rice and potatoes

4. stiff or pompous formality of manner or conduct

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verb

1. (tr) to stiffen with or soak in starch

adjective

1. (of a person) formal; stiff

starch Scientific  

/ stärch /

1. A carbohydrate that is the chief form of stored energy in plants, especially wheat, corn, rice, and potatoes. Starch is a mixture of two different polysaccharides built out of glucose units, and forms a white, tasteless powder when purified. It is an important source of nutrition and is also used to make adhesives, paper, and textiles.

2. Any of various substances, including natural starch, used to stiffen fabrics.

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starch Idioms  

1. see take the starch out of.

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Other Word Forms

• overstarch verb (used with object)
• overstarched adjective
• starcher noun
• starchless adjective
• starchlike adjective
• unstarched adjective

Etymology

Origin of starch

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English (verb) sterchen originally, “to stiffen,” Old English stercean “to make stiff, strengthen,” derivative of stearc “stiff, firm”; cognate with German stärken “to strengthen”; stark

Example Sentences

So while tuna, coconut, chili and starch remain the major food groups on local islands, the fridges at private island resorts more closely resemble those of Michelin-starred establishments, anywhere from London to Hong Kong.

From Salon

Shaking out the bedding provided in a brown paper bag, I watched my fellow passengers make up their berths, tucking in starched sheets with the ease of seasoned travelers.

From The Wall Street Journal

My tasting panel dubbed them a superlative Thanksgiving starch.

From The Wall Street Journal

For years, the egg has ruled the breakfast table like a sun god—worshipped, aestheticized, endlessly fiddled with by men in starched aprons and women with ring lights.

From Salon

Penney, with ties that matched too well, and shirts that were starched just a bit too stiffly.

From Literature

Related Words

• carbohydrate
• sugar