starch
noun · verb · adjective
Simple meaning
A widely diffused vegetable substance, found usually in seeds, bulbs and tubers, as extracted in the form of a white.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
stahrchIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈstɑɹtʃ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
uncountable
A widely diffused vegetable substance, found especially in seeds, bulbs and tubers, as extracted (e.g. from potatoes, corn, rice, etc.) in the form of a white, glistening, granular or powdery substance, without taste or smell, and giving a very peculiar creaking sound when rubbed between the fingers. It is used as a food, in the production of commercial grape sugar, for stiffening linen in laundries, in making paste, etc.
countable
Any of various starch-like substances used as a laundry stiffener.
nutritioncountable
Carbohydrates, as with grain and potato based foods.
uncountable
A stiff, formal manner; formality.
uncountable
Fortitude.
verb
transitive
To apply or treat with laundry starch, in order to create a hard, smooth surface.
Stiffen with starch
adjective
Stiff; precise; rigid.
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A widely diffused vegetable substance, found especially in seeds, bulbs and tubers, as extracted (e.g. from potatoes, corn, rice, etc.) in the form of a white, glistening, granular or powdery substance, without taste or smell, and giving a very peculiar creaking sound when rubbed between the fingers. It is used as a food, in the production of commercial grape sugar, for stiffening linen in laundries, in making paste, etc.
Used this way, starch is a reasonably familiar word with a faintly unfavourable edge. It carries more force than its gentler alternatives. It sounds natural in ordinary conversation and in expressive writing alike.
- Emotional tone
- Slightly negative
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Strong
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Critical or judgemental
- Usage feel
- Everyday but emotionally strong
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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