starch Hear it!

starch definition

starch (stärc̸h)

noun

  1. a white, tasteless, odorless food substance found in potatoes, rice, corn, wheat, cassava, and many other vegetable foods: it is a granular solid, chemically a complex carbohydrate, (CHO), and is used in adhesives, sizes, foods, cosmetics, medicine, etc.
  2. a powdered form of this, used in laundering for stiffening cloth, fabrics, etc.
  3. starchy foods
  4. formal, unbending manner or behavior; stiffness
  5. Informal energy; vigor

Etymology: ME starche < sterchen, to stiffen < OE *stercan < stearc, rigid, stiff, akin to Ger stark, strong: see stark

transitive verb

to stiffen with or as if with starch

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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