starch

[ stahrch ]

noun

1. a white, tasteless, solid carbohydrate, (C 6 H 1 0 O 5 ) 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

verb (used with object)

1. to stiffen or treat with starch.
2. to make stiff or rigidly formal (sometimes followed by up ).

starch

/ 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 amylaceous
2. Also calledamylum 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

verb

1. tr to stiffen with or soak in starch

adjective

1. (of a person) formal; stiff

starch

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• ˈstarchˌlike, adjective
• ˈstarcher, noun

Other Words From

• starchless adjective
• starchlike adjective
• over·starch verb (used with object)
• over·starched adjective
• un·starched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of starch¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of starch¹

Old English stercan (unattested except by the past participle sterced ) to stiffen; related to Old Saxon sterkian , Old High German sterken to strengthen, Dutch sterken ; see stark

Idioms and Phrases

see take the starch out of .

Example Sentences

As the mold digests the proteins and starch within the fibrous pulp, it also breaks down the cellulose, turning what remains into a dish beloved by many across western Indonesia.

From Salon

If the ingredients include things such as “organic tapioca starch” or “pea protein isolate,” or even natural coloring, you might reconsider.

From Los Angeles Times

“Kids are now wearing their botas to school or their tejanas and starched jeans.”

From Los Angeles Times

Then depending on the night, I’ll either do a pasta, rice, a potato for the starch and roasted chicken is usually my go-to.

From Los Angeles Times

There are the hyper-processed kinds made of oil and starch that dissolve into goo when heated and, in especially soul-crushing cases, stick to your teeth like glue.

From Salon

Related Words

• carbohydrate
• sugar