[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/starch/)

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# starch

noun (starch, starches); verb (starch, starches, starched, starching)

«starch» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A white substance found in foods such as bread, rice, pasta and potatoes, which gives the body energy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#m1)
2. A powder or spray used to make clothes stiff. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#m2)
3. (verb) To make cloth stiff with starch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#m3)
4. A person who is starched-up is very stiff, formal and proud in their manner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science and healthy-eating lessons, starch is a carbohydrate: energy foods are «starchy foods». A classic test: iodine solution turns blue-black when there is starch in a food; plants make starch in their leaves from sugar to store energy. In history, collars and shirts were starched stiff. Phrases: «starchy foods», «test for starch», «iodine test».

### Examples

- Bread, rice and potatoes are full of starch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#x1)
- Starchy foods give you energy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#x2)
- Iodine turns blue-black when it touches starch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#x3)
- We tested foods for starch in science. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#x4)
- Plants store food as starch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#x5)
- The cook used corn starch to thicken the gravy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#x6)
- Grandma starched the tablecloth for the party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#x7)
- Saliva begins breaking down starch in your mouth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#x8)
- It is true, I was always a fine starched-up gentleman! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/#x9)

### Note

Uncountable in general, «starches» for kinds. Adjective «starchy» (full of starch; also stiff and formal). Iodine is poisonous to drink — only use it as the teacher says.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «starch» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/starch/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«starch» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/starch.html) on Mova free.