starch

verb

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\ ˈstärch

\

starched; starching; starches

Definition of starch

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

: to stiffen with or as if with starch

starch

noun

Definition of starch (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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Examples of starch in a Sentence

Verb He starches the collars of his shirts. Noun a middle-aged woman who has retained the starch of youth

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The two are mashed together into an amalgamation of tartness and starch for a dish that’s the perfect accompaniment to fatty sausages, pork chops or other heavy cuts of meat. — Paul Stephen, ExpressNews.com, "5 global mashed potato dishes to star in 2020’s Thanksgiving meal," 18 Nov. 2020 As the sugar in the peas turns to starch, their sweetness fades. — Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, "Sugar snap peas are loaded with a healthy dose of vitamin C," 7 Aug. 2020 From the moment corn is picked, its sugar begins to convert to starch, decreasing its natural sweetness. — Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, "Mexican street corn: Easy and cheesy take on corn-on-the-cob," 9 July 2020 At times, the shirts’ high collars and starched feel felt ecclesiastical, while their voluminous sleeves almost angelic. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Valentino channels powerful simplicity in Paris show," 29 Sep. 2019 At times, the shirts’ high collars and starched feel felt ecclesiastical, while their voluminous sleeves almost angelic. — Washington Post, "Valentino channels powerful simplicity in Paris show," 29 Sep. 2019 If there's white cotton curtains in the house, bleaching and starching them while ironing are efforts that go a long way. 6. — Melissa Rolland, courant.com, "Projects That Don't Break The Bank," 19 June 2018 So to a certain extent, Apple has brilliantly taken advantage of the situation and starched their hat white. — Recode Staff, Recode, "Full transcript: NYU professor Scott Galloway answers listener questions on Too Embarrassed to Ask," 26 May 2018 With hair combed neatly to one side, and dressed almost daily in suits that aren’t so much pressed as they are vigorously starched, Becerra is dutifully methodical when performing all the typical functions as California’s attorney general. — Marcos Bretón, sacbee, "When Trump deports immigrants, California’s attorney general remembers his mom and dad," 11 Sep. 2017 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun If the flour is omitted and a gluten-free thickener is desired, add a bit of corn starch to the cooking liquid. — Rebecca White, Dallas News, "Weeknight-worthy recipe: Crab and Shrimp Coconut Bisque," 31 Dec. 2020 Their founders predict that within a few years consumers won’t be able to tell the difference between a burger patty from a cow and one produced with pea protein, beet juice and potato starch. — New York Times, "Brazil Is Famous for Its Meat. But Vegetarianism Is Soaring.," 26 Dec. 2020 Flip the mochi upside down and brush off excess starch with a pastry brush. — Janelle Bitker, SFChronicle.com, "Make mochi for New Year's with this Bay Area native's adorable new cookbook," 30 Dec. 2020 Once the fryer is preheated, tap each piece of chicken on the side of the bowl to remove excess starch and place it in the air fryer basket. — Washington Post, "Want to make crispy chicken wings minus the mess? Turn to the air fryer," 21 Dec. 2020 The result is a sumptuous stew with just enough starch and spice. — Kitty Greenwald, WSJ, "A Jambalaya by Way of Spain," 3 Dec. 2020 Yellow potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, and some red potatoes are medium-starch. — Washington Post, "How to make crispy, golden potatoes, every time," 18 Dec. 2020 Food exchanges: 1 starch, ½ fat Support local journalism and become a digital subscriber to the Free Press. — Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, "Two ingredient bruschetta topping is low-fat and easy to prepare," 17 Dec. 2020 Surely his Mennonite mother, who knows all things about starch and butter and who has excellent cooking skills, taught him better. — New York Times, "Judge John Hodgman on Eating Mashed Potatoes," 17 Dec. 2020

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.

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“Starch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/starch. Accessed 27 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for starch

starch

verb

English Language Learners Definition of starch

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to make (clothing) stiff by using starch

starch

noun

English Language Learners Definition of starch (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

See the full definition for starch in the English Language Learners Dictionary

starch

noun

\ ˈstärch

\

Kids Definition of starch

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

starched; starching

Kids Definition of starch (Entry 2 of 2)

: to stiffen with starch

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

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