starched; starching; starches
: to stiffen with or as if with 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
Synonyms
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
Melvin Backman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2023
Try not to pull back the husk and expose the kernels though, as this only speeds up the corn drying out and converting its natural sugars to starch.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2023
Guevara’s grandmother starched and pressed his shirts.
—Cheryl Hall, Dallas News, 16 June 2023
His jeans were the color of Neptune and starched rigid.
—Hazlitt, 14 June 2023
Proponents of the drink, which is most commonly used in cooking, argue that drinking apple cider vinegar straight-up can do it all: alleviate acne, clear up dandruff, help heal sunburns, and even efficiently and effectively dry-clean your dress shirts and starch their collars (maybe).
—Melissa Matthews, Men's Health, 28 Feb. 2023
Why did the ghost starch his sheet?
—Julia Ludlam, Country Living, 20 July 2022
Far from being delicate, the process of hand laundering was taxing, requiring both outside contractors to dry clean and wet wash the clothes and owners to individually starch and then smooth the cotton shirts and beddings with 6-pound irons in air conditioner-less 90-degree weather.
—NBC news, 9 Oct. 2020
Some telltale signs were then identified on Raqefet stones: A roughly 10-inch diameter mortar, carved directly into the cave floor, had micro-scratches — probably from a wooden pestle — and starch with damage indicative of mashing, heating and fermenting, all steps in alcohol production.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 24 Apr. 2020
Clare Holden, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024
There’s a general flow to the meal—usually sashimi and cold dishes in the beginning, fried and grilled things towards the middle, and then a rice or udon at the end, a bit of starch to fill you up and soak up the alcohol.
—Jessica Carbone, Saveur, 3 Apr. 2024
Pantry Staples for Gluten-Free Baking At its most basic, the gluten-free pantry can be broken down into three categories: flours, starches, and binders.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 15 Mar. 2024
Main dishes of rotisserie chicken, a vegan cauliflower dish, smoked beef short rib, and smoked pork tenderloin items are paired with a choice of sauce and vegetable or starch sides.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024
The menu changes weekly, the portions are hearty and the flavors soulful, and the entrees tend to follow the family-table formula of protein, vegetable and starch.
—John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024
Combine your protein with a starch and a few vegetables.
—Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024
For a thicker sauce, add 1/4 teaspoon corn starch mixed with 1 teaspoon water, and cook until thickened.
—Judy Bart Kancigor, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
And the funky starch Wright irons into them is funny.
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024
Verb
The fabric, fully starched, would soar into the air and find its resting place on his cheeks.
—Melvin Backman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2023
Try not to pull back the husk and expose the kernels though, as this only speeds up the corn drying out and converting its natural sugars to starch.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2023
Guevara’s grandmother starched and pressed his shirts.
—Cheryl Hall, Dallas News, 16 June 2023
His jeans were the color of Neptune and starched rigid.
—Hazlitt, 14 June 2023
Proponents of the drink, which is most commonly used in cooking, argue that drinking apple cider vinegar straight-up can do it all: alleviate acne, clear up dandruff, help heal sunburns, and even efficiently and effectively dry-clean your dress shirts and starch their collars (maybe).
—Melissa Matthews, Men's Health, 28 Feb. 2023
Why did the ghost starch his sheet?
—Julia Ludlam, Country Living, 20 July 2022
Far from being delicate, the process of hand laundering was taxing, requiring both outside contractors to dry clean and wet wash the clothes and owners to individually starch and then smooth the cotton shirts and beddings with 6-pound irons in air conditioner-less 90-degree weather.
—NBC news, 9 Oct. 2020
Some telltale signs were then identified on Raqefet stones: A roughly 10-inch diameter mortar, carved directly into the cave floor, had micro-scratches — probably from a wooden pestle — and starch with damage indicative of mashing, heating and fermenting, all steps in alcohol production.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 24 Apr. 2020
Noun
The talc-free formula uses a combination of tapioca starch and Japanese persimmon powder to gently absorb oil and leave your hair looking oh so fresh.
—Clare Holden, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024
There’s a general flow to the meal—usually sashimi and cold dishes in the beginning, fried and grilled things towards the middle, and then a rice or udon at the end, a bit of starch to fill you up and soak up the alcohol.
—Jessica Carbone, Saveur, 3 Apr. 2024
Pantry Staples for Gluten-Free Baking At its most basic, the gluten-free pantry can be broken down into three categories: flours, starches, and binders.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 15 Mar. 2024
Main dishes of rotisserie chicken, a vegan cauliflower dish, smoked beef short rib, and smoked pork tenderloin items are paired with a choice of sauce and vegetable or starch sides.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024
The menu changes weekly, the portions are hearty and the flavors soulful, and the entrees tend to follow the family-table formula of protein, vegetable and starch.
—John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024
Combine your protein with a starch and a few vegetables.
—Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024
For a thicker sauce, add 1/4 teaspoon corn starch mixed with 1 teaspoon water, and cook until thickened.
—Judy Bart Kancigor, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
And the funky starch Wright irons into them is funny.
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'starch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near starch
Cite this Entry
“Starch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/starch. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
starch
1 of 2 verb
: to stiffen with or as if with starch
starch
2 of 2 noun1
: 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
Medical Definition
starch
noun
: 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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