# starch

/ˈstɑɹtʃ/ (US) · /stˈɑːtʃ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/starch
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a white substance found in foods like bread, potatoes, and rice that gives you energy. It is also used in a spray form to make clothes feel stiff and smooth.

For teachers: a complex carbohydrate found in various plant tissues, particularly seeds and tubers, which serves as a primary energy source in the human diet. Also refers to a preparation used in laundering to stiffen fabrics.

## Examples

- Potatoes and pasta are very high in starch.
- The chef explained that rinsing the rice helps remove excess starch so the grains do not stick together.
- While complex carbohydrates provide sustained energy, a diet excessively high in refined starch can lead to rapid fluctuations in blood glucose levels.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the substance in general; countable when referring to specific chemical varieties or types of laundry stiffener.

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