starch
/stɑːtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /stɑːrtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstärch/ (ame, mw)
starch — noun
1. a white substance found in potatoes, rice, wheat, corn, and other plants that yo
a white substance found in potatoes, rice, wheat, corn, and other plants that your body breaks down into sugar to give you energy
Potatoes contain a lot of starch, which is why they are such a filling food.
Wei's doctor told him to eat fewer foods that are high in starch.
collocation: high in starch
Corn is one of the main sources of starch used in cooking and food manufacturing.
When you chew bread for a long time, the starch turns into a sweet taste in your mouth.
Many processed snacks contain added starch to give them a crispy texture.
- carbohydrate
broader category; starch is one type of carbohydrate
- protein
a different macronutrient group with a different chemical structure
文法句型
starch as a mass noun
用法筆記
Uncountable — do not say 'a starch' when referring to the food substance in general. However, 'starches' (plural) is used informally to mean 'foods rich in starch' (e.g. 'cut back on starches').
常見錯誤
2. a powder or liquid made from plant starch that is mixed with water and sprayed o
a powder or liquid made from plant starch that is mixed with water and sprayed or rubbed onto fabric to make it smooth, stiff, and easy to iron
Olga sprayed starch onto her father's white shirts before ironing them.
spray + starch + onto [fabric]
The dry cleaner uses a special starch to keep the collars of dress shirts perfectly stiff.
Amina bought a can of starch from the supermarket to use on her new linen tablecloth.
Too much starch can leave white marks on dark-coloured clothes.
Lars prefers using spray starch because it is easier to apply evenly than the powdered kind.
- sizing
a broader term for substances used to stiffen fabric, often in industrial settings
文法句型
starch as a laundry product
用法筆記
Uncountable. When referring to the act of applying starch in laundry, 'starch' is used without an article ('apply starch', 'use starch'). The countable form 'a starch' is rare and usually refers to a specific brand or product type.
starch — verb
- starchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- starches3rd person singular
- starching-ing form
- starchedpast simple
1. to treat fabric or clothing with a starch mixture so that it becomes smoothly st
to treat fabric or clothing with a starch mixture so that it becomes smoothly stiffened ready for ironing or wearing
Diego always starches his uniform trousers before his shift at the hotel.
The nurse's white apron was carefully starched and ironed every morning.
passive: be starched
Hassan learned to starch his shirts the way his grandmother used to do it.
Mrs. Chen prefers to starch her tablecloths so they lie flat and look elegant.
If you starch a cotton dress, the fabric will hold its shape much better.
- stiffen
broader; can refer to any material becoming firm, not just through starch
- soften
the opposite effect — making fabric less stiff
文法句型
starch + noun phrase
be starched
用法筆記
Often used in the passive ('be starched') or as a past participle adjective ('a starched collar'). Less common in everyday speech now that many fabrics are made from synthetic materials that do not require starching.