starch

1 of 2

verb

ˈstärch 

starched; starching; starches

transitive verb

: to stiffen with or as if with starch

starch

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms of starch

Noun

• energy
• vigor
• juice
• gas
• vinegar
• beans
• life

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

All told, the process requires around eleven steps to get from carbon dioxide to starch. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Jan. 2026

Most of the other kids wore starched Gunne Sax dresses and pressed khaki pants, but Agatha Krishna donned white from head to toe. —Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026

Noun

Most Factor dishes follow a protein plus starch plus veggie format that, while simple, means the meals feel both balanced and satisfying. —Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Jan. 2026

That's because boiling may change the chemical structure of the starches in sweet potato differently than baking or frying. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing starch

• animal starch
• take the starch out of (someone)

Rhymes for starch

• arch
• march
• cornstarch

Kids Definition

starch

1 of 2 verb

ˈstärch 

: to stiffen with or as if with starch

starch

2 of 2 noun

1

: a white odorless tasteless carbohydrate that is the chief form in which carbohydrate is stored in plants, is an important food, and is used also in adhesives, in laundering, and in pharmacy and medicine

2

: a stiff formal manner : formality

3

: vitality sense 2, spunk

Medical Definition

starch

noun

ˈstärch 

: 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