Starch

Starch
Starch Starch, n. [From starch stiff, cf. G. st["a]rke, fr. stark strong.] 1. (Chem.) A widely diffused vegetable substance found especially in seeds, bulbs, and tubers, and extracted (as from potatoes, corn, rice, etc.) as 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. [1913 Webster]

Note: Starch is a carbohydrate, being the typical amylose, {C6H10O5}, and is detected by the fine blue color given to it by free iodine. It is not fermentable as such, but is changed by diastase into dextrin and maltose, and by heating with dilute acids into dextrose. Cf. {Sugar}, {Inulin}, and {Lichenin}. [1913 Webster]

2. Fig.: A stiff, formal manner; formality. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

{Starch hyacinth} (Bot.), the grape hyacinth; -- so called because the flowers have the smell of boiled starch. See under {Grape}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Starch — Starch, CAS# 9005 25 8, chemical formula (C6H10O5)n is a polysaccharide carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose monosaccharide units joined together by glycosidic bonds. All plant seeds and tubers contain starch which is… …   Wikipedia

  • starch´i|ly — starch|y «STAHR chee», adjective, starch|i|er, starch|i|est. 1. like starch. 2. composed of starch. 3. containing starch …   Useful english dictionary

  • starch|y — «STAHR chee», adjective, starch|i|er, starch|i|est. 1. like starch. 2. composed of starch. 3. containing starch …   Useful english dictionary

  • Starch — Starch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Starched} (st[aum]rcht); p. pr. & vb. n. {Starching}.] To stiffen with starch. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • starch — [stärch] n. [ME starche < sterchen, to stiffen < OE * stercan < stearc, rigid, stiff, akin to Ger stark, strong: see STARK] 1. a white, tasteless, odorless food substance found in potatoes, rice, corn, wheat, cassava, and many other… …   English World dictionary

  • Starch — (st[aum]rch), a. [AS. stearc stark, strong, rough. See {Stark}.] Stiff; precise; rigid. [R.] Killingbeck. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • starch — (v.) c.1400, from O.E. *stercan (Mercian), *stiercan (W.Saxon) make rigid, found in stercedferhð fixed, hard, resolute (related to stearc stiff ), from P.Gmc. *starkijanan (Cf. Ger. Stärke strength, starch ), from PIE root *ster strong, firm,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • starch — ► NOUN 1) an odourless, tasteless carbohydrate which is obtained chiefly from cereals and potatoes and is an important constituent of the human diet. 2) powder or spray made from this substance, used to stiffen fabric. 3) stiffness of manner. ►… …   English terms dictionary

  • starch — starch. См. крахмал. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • starch — [ startʃ ] noun 1. ) uncount a substance used for making clothes stiff 2. ) count or uncount a white substance without any taste that is found in rice, potatoes, and other vegetables. It is a type of CARBOHYDRATE that gives you energy …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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