starch

verb \ ˈstärch \

Definition of starch

transitive verb

:to stiffen with or as if with starch

See starch defined for English-language learners

See starch defined for kids

Examples of starch in a Sentence

He starches the collars of his shirts.

Recent Examples of starch from the Web

Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez (Gilbert Melendez’s wife) just starched her opponent in her MMA debut. #

— jon becker, The Mercury News, "UFC fighter Melendez’s wife taking huge MMA step," 22 May 2017
His search for something else to use summoned memories of the gooey liquid his mother had used to starch the collars of his father’s shirts.

— denise gellene, New York Times, "Oliver Smithies, Tinkerer Who Transformed Genetics and Won a Nobel, Dies at 91," 11 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'starch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of starch

Middle English sterchen, probably from Old English *stercan to stiffen; akin to Old English stearc stiff — more at stark

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

starch

noun

Definition of starch

1 :a white odorless tasteless granular or powdery complex carbohydrate (C₆H₁₀O₅)_x that is the chief storage form of carbohydrate in plants, is an important foodstuff, and is used also in adhesives and sizes, in laundering, and in pharmacy and medicine

2 :a stiff formal manner :formality

3 :resolute vigor

See starch defined for English-language learners

Examples of starch in a Sentence

a middle-aged woman who has retained the starch of youth

Recent Examples of starch from the Web

Food exchanges: 1 1 / 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 / 2 fat.

— susan selasky, charlotteobserver, "5 tips for making creamy risotto," 29 Aug. 2017
Dr. Kellogg baked his dough at extremely high heat to break down starch contained in the grain into the simple sugar dextrose.

— howard markel, Smithsonian, "The Secret Ingredient in Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Is Seventh-Day Adventism," 28 July 2017
Keep your favorite pair from stretching out by washing and machine-drying jeans every two wears, or spray the insides with starch, then iron for a stiffer look.

— lauren chan, Glamour, "Finally—Plus-Size Jeans That Aren't Stretchy Skinnies!," 20 July 2017
Now there are bioplastics, made out of biological materials like corn starch.

— sarah zhang, The Atlantic, "Half of All Plastic That Has Ever Existed Was Made in the Past 13 Years," 19 July 2017
In addition to the two starches and cheese, the queso is made with hot and medium salsa, picked jalapeno, and sofrito—a blend of herbs and spices.

— beth kowitt, Fortune, "Chipotle Is Testing ‘Natural’ Queso," 10 July 2017
Fruits are a classic accompaniment to many savory dishes, bringing out a sweetness and fullness to many meats and starches.

— the tylt, OregonLive.com, "Does pineapple belong on a pizza?," 7 July 2017
The wraps/greens portion of the menu has 10 items in all, the most expensive being the West Coast ($13.50): corn-starch fried shrimp, arugula, iceberg, green onion, cilantro, shaved carrot, sliced avocado and sweet Thai chili aioli.

— robert philpot, star-telegram.com, "Unleavened Fresh Kitchen will rise this year in Southlake," 30 June 2017
Some cooks combine the methods, and dip the chicken in buttermilk, milk or eggs before coating it in seasoned flour or starch.

— sam sifton, charlotteobserver, "Batter up (or brine): Here’s your guide to perfect fried chicken," 6 June 2017

First Known Use of starch

15th century

starch Synonyms

Synonyms

beans, bounce, brio, dash, drive, dynamism, energy, esprit, gas, get-up-and-go, ginger, go, gusto, hardihood, juice, life, moxie, oomph, pep, punch, sap, snap, vigor, verve, vim, vinegar, vitality, zing, zip

Antonyms

lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, torpidity

Near Antonyms

indolence, laziness; debilitation, debility, delicacy, disablement, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, impotence, impotency, infirmity, powerlessness, puniness, slightness, softness, tenderness, weakness; enervation, exhaustion, inanition, prostration

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

STARCH Defined for English Language Learners

starch

verb

Definition of starch for English Language Learners

: to make (clothing) stiff by using starch

starch

noun

Definition of starch for English Language Learners

: a substance that is found in certain foods (such as bread, rice, and potatoes)
: a powder or liquid that contains starch and is used to make clothing stiff

STARCH Defined for Kids

starch

noun \ ˈstärch \

Definition of starch for Students

:a white odorless tasteless substance that is the chief form in which carbohydrates are stored in plants, is an important component of many foods (as rice and bread), and has various uses (as for stiffening clothes)

starch

verb

Definition of starch for Students

starched; starching

:to stiffen with starch

Medical Dictionary

starch

noun \ ˈstärch \

medical Definition of starch

:a white odorless tasteless granular or powdery complex carbohydrate (C₆H₁₀O₅)_x that is the chief storage form of carbohydrate in plants, is an important foodstuff, has demulcent and absorbent properties, and is used in pharmacy especially as a dusting powder and as a constituent of ointments and pastes