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
Julia Moskin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
This starch is extracted from the roots of cassava plants.
—Samantha Lauriello, Health, 8 Apr. 2024
White Kidney Beans have been proven to help prevent your body from using those extra starches and blocks them from becoming body fat.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
To make applying it easier, Richardson recommends hanging the garment, then spraying on the starch.
—Helen Carefoot, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Carefully pour off and discard liquid, leaving starch in bowl.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
The resistant starch from potatoes has also been found to improve insulin sensitivity and be super beneficial for the health of the gut microbiome.
—Maria Berentzen, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2024
Starches: Cornstarch, potato starch, and tapioca starch keep things tender, soft, and chewy.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 15 Mar. 2024
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
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
As the microscopic granules swell with hot water and burst while cooking, japonica releases more sticky starch.
—Julia Moskin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
This starch is extracted from the roots of cassava plants.
—Samantha Lauriello, Health, 8 Apr. 2024
White Kidney Beans have been proven to help prevent your body from using those extra starches and blocks them from becoming body fat.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
To make applying it easier, Richardson recommends hanging the garment, then spraying on the starch.
—Helen Carefoot, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Carefully pour off and discard liquid, leaving starch in bowl.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
The resistant starch from potatoes has also been found to improve insulin sensitivity and be super beneficial for the health of the gut microbiome.
—Maria Berentzen, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2024
Starches: Cornstarch, potato starch, and tapioca starch keep things tender, soft, and chewy.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 15 Mar. 2024
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
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 25 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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